Glen Sonmor, radio analyst for Gophers men's hockey on WCCO (830-AM), will retire at season's end.

The former coach of the North Stars, Fighting Saints and Gophers is 81. He has been in the Gophers broadcast booth for the past 15 years.

Sonmor received the Lester Patrick Trophy for outstanding service to hockey in the United States in 2006 and has also served as an amateur scout for the Wild.

He played for the New York Rangers of the NHL but lost an eye because of an on-ice injury in 1955.

A native of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Sonmor coached the Gophers from 1966 to '71, guiding the team to a WCHA regular-season title in 1970 and an NCAA runner-up finish in 1971.

He moved to the World Hockey Association's Fighting Saints, and also coached that league's Birmingham Bulls, before becoming North Stars coach from 1979 to '83. The North Stars made the playoffs each year and advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1981 before losing to the New York Islanders.

ROMAN AUGUSTOVIZ