Ryan, one of Bob’s three sons, is an NHL all-star with the Minnesota Wild who won a silver medal with Team USA in 2010 in the first of his two Olympic appearances.

Bob Suter is the only ﻿“Miracle on Ice” ﻿player to have his son follow in his Olympic footsteps.

UW men’s coach Mike Eaves had the distinction of playing with Bob Suter — they, along with Johnson, won a NCAA title with the Badgers in 1977 — and coaching Ryan at their alma mater.

“This is a heartbreaking day,” Eaves said ﻿in a statement released by the school. “He was the ultimate teammate. He could skate like the wind and was as hard of a competitor that I ever knew. He has passed much too young.”

Ryan Suter played for Team USA during the Games in Sochi, Russia earlier this year and his father tagged along. Fischer remembered a long, well-into-the-night discussion with the Suters about the sport they love.

“We had robust conversations about the development of the sport and what’s going on,” Fischer said of his periodic talks with the elder Suter.

“He’s so passionate and cares so much about the game. That was always first and foremost. At the end of the day, he was just a terrific man.”