MADISON, Wis. Marian Gaborik Kings Jersey . -- Bob Suter, a member of the 1980 U.S. Olympic "Miracle On Ice" hockey team, has died of an apparent heart attack at the age of 57. Suters death was confirmed by a spokesman for USA Hockey. The Madison, Wisc., native won a gold medal representing the United States at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, N.Y., and is the father of NHL star defenceman Ryan Suter, who currently plays for the Minnesota Wild. "Its a tough day for our sport, having lost a great friend and ambassador of the game," USA Hockey said in a statement. "Bob Suter will always be remembered for his role as a member of the 1980 Miracle on Ice Team that captivated our country and whose impact is impossible to measure. "His legacy, however, is far beyond that as he dedicated his life to advancing hockey and helping young people achieve their dreams. Bobs positive impact on our sport will be felt for generations to come. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Suter family at this difficult time." U.S. Olympic teammate Mark Johnson, now womens hockey coach at Wisconsin, said everyone was stunned and shocked to hear the news. "Its a sad day for not only the community of Madison but the hockey community who knew Bob and all of the players who he touched and who he gave an opportunity to play hockey and climb up the ladder," Johnson said in a statement released by the Badgers. "Whether its high school, onto college or onto the professional ranks, he touched a lot of kids and gave them an opportunity." Toronto Maple Leafs star Phil Kessel and sister Amanda expressed their condolences on Twitter. "Today is a very sad day," Phil Kessel wrote. "I lost a great coach friend and mentor. He made me into the player I am today and I will forever be grateful. My thoughts and prayers go out to the Suter family today. I will miss you forever Bob Suter." Amanda wrote that she was "deeply saddened with the news of Bob Suters death. He was such a great guy and friend since I was a little girl. He will be greatly missed." Suter starred at the University of Wisconsin from 1977 to 1979 and has been a fixture in that area beyond his playing career. He opened a sporting goods store in Madison after retiring. "I was extremely saddened to hear of the passing of Bob Suter," Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez said in a statement. "The Suter name is synonymous with Badger hockey. Bob did tremendous work in the Madison and UW community to grow the sport of hockey. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Suter family." A seventh-round pick of the Los Angeles Kings in the 1977 NHL draft and a seventh-rounder of the Birmingham Bulls in the 1977 WHA draft, he went on to play 86 games in the Central Hockey League. "Bob was the ultimate teammate," Wisconsin mens hockey coach and college teammate Mike Eaves said in a statement. "He could skate like the wind and was as hard of a competitor that I ever knew. He has passed much too young." Suters brother Gary played 1,145 NHL games with the Flames, Blackhawks and Sharks and was on Calgarys 1989 Stanley Cup team. The Minnesota Wild, who employed Bob Suter as a scout, also released a statement of condolences for his family. "Not only was Bob a great hockey ambassador, he was a terrific person off the ice who will be greatly missed by all of us," the team said. Ryan Suter represented the U.S. at the Sochi Olympics 34 years after his father won a gold medal in Lake Placid. Dustin Brown Kings Jersey . -- San Francisco 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks was fined $15,570 by the NFL on Wednesday for his hit on Saints quarterback Drew Brees last Sunday. Slava Voynov . - The Abbotsford Heat hope a last-minute goal keeps their season alive for more than one extra game.VANCOUVER - The Vancouver Canucks hit the road for crucial back-to-back games this week knowing full well that their season likely hangs in the balance. With just nine contests left on the schedule and the club sitting four points adrift in the Western Conference playoff race, the Canucks have no margin for error. "Everybodys looking at the standings. We are too," head coach John Tortorella said after Tuesdays practice at Rogers Arena. "All we can do is control what we have. "Were going to keep on trying to battle away here and find points." That begins Wednesday in Minnesota against the Wild before another tough test the following night against the Colorado Avalanche. Both teams are all but locked into playoff positions, something the Canucks can only dream of at this point. While the standings dont look all that daunting at first glance — the eighth-place Phoenix Coyotes were four points up with a game in hand on Vancouver heading into Tuesday — the math tells a different story. The website www.sportsclubstats.com, which calculates teams playoff chances, currently gives the Canucks just a 2.3 per cent shot at making this years post-season. Its a stunning slide for a club that has become accustomed to battling for division titles in recent years, not its playoff life. Vancouver has won its last two games over the punchless Nashville Predators and the Buffalo Sabres to stay above water, but the Wild and Avalanche should pose a much tougher test in what could be two season-defining contests. "Weve been a very resilient group. Weve been on the outside looking in for a while now and weve climbed right back up there," said Canucks defenceman Kevin Bieksa. "Weve had some tough losses for sure. Theres no hiding that, but we keeping fighting. "Were still here. Were still standing." They might not be after this week. Apart from the Coyotes, the Dallas Stars also stand in the way of the Canucks playoff hopes. Dallas was three points up on Vancouver with two games in hand heading into Tuesday. But if Vancouver can survive the trip to Minnesota and Colorado, the club could have some life with six of its final seven games coming at home. "Im just trying to take it day by day here," said goaltender Eddie Lack, who is expected to make his 14th straight start Wednesday. "I know (Phoenix and Dallas) have a really tough schedule left. We have a lot of home games too so hopefully we can take advantage of that and just do our part here and well see if its enough or not. Jonathan Quick Kings Jersey. ." Canucks forward Zack Kassian said the players are aware of the out-of-town scoreboard each night, but added that the daunting task makes his preparation easier. "We know theres only nine and we know that every one of those games is going to be very important for our hockey team," he said. "You definitely look (at the scores) as a team when youre not playing and youre seeing how other teams are doing that youre trying to chase. "At the end of the day if we dont take care of our business and win hockey games it has no effect on us." Canucks forward Daniel Sedin said he cant help but pay attention to other teams results when every point is so critical. "I think you have to right now. We need those two teams to lose a few games," he said. "I think you keep an eye on that, but on game day youre so focused on your own games you dont really worry too much about the other scores." Tortorella and his players both refuse to use injuries as an excuse, but the Canucks have rarely had a chance to ice their full lineup since the end of December. Daniel Sedin returned on Sunday against Buffalo, but the club lost Henrik Sedin the same night, while fellow forward Alexandre Burrows was hurt against Nashville. Neither will make the two-game road trip. "It cant be deflating. Weve been going through this all year long. You get a couple back, another one goes out," said Tortorella. "Its been most of our top guys ... but it cant be deflating at this time of year. We just need to stay upbeat." While refusing to use injuries as a crutch to explain his teams predicament, the fiery coach who preaches pressure in all three zones added that the crowded sick bay has left him hamstrung at times. "The lineup when we were healthy, I think we were a different team. I think it allowed us to play a little bit differently, too," said Tortorella. "When we started getting banged up there ... we had to make some adjustments within our play and it changes things." Bieksa said that despite the injuries and long odds, a belief remains in the Canucks locker-room that the playoffs are still attainable. "Weve set ourselves up to make a push at least," he said. "Were fighting to the end. Were not going to give up." Follow @JClipperton_CP on Twitter cheap jerseys from chinacheap jerseys ' ' '
