Glen Sonmor, who coached the Minnesota North Stars to the Stanley Cup Final and played briefly for the New York Rangers, died Monday at the age of 86.

The Minnesota Wild, for whom Sonmor had served as a scout, announced his death.

Sonmor, who was born April 22, 1929 in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, coached the North Stars for parts of seven seasons from 1978-86.

"Personally, he was like a family member. … Just a character," Hockey Hall of Fame member and former North Stars general manager Lou Nanne told the Minneapolis Star Tribune on Monday.

"He would not accept not working hard. He wanted players to stand up for themselves and one another another, and he wanted guys who loved to play."

Sonmor coached the North Stars to the Campbell Conference Final in 1980 and to the Stanley Cup Final the following season, losing in five games to the New York Islanders, who won the second of their four consecutive Stanley Cup titles. The North Stars won the Norris Division during the 1981-82 season, but were eliminated in the first round.

Sonmor scored two goals in 28 games over parts of two seasons with the Rangers from 1953-55.

Following his playing days, he coached collegiately at the University of Minnesota and Ohio State as well as the Minnesota Fighting Saints and the Birmingham Bulls of the World Hockey Association.

More recently, Sonmor was a radio analyst for University of Minnesota hockey games.