Glen Sather's extraordinary life in hockey
Glen Sather has lived many lives in his hockey career. As a player, coach, general manager and front office executive, Sather has done it all. On Dec. 11, the Oilers will raise a banner at Rexall Place in his honour, celebrating one the game's extraordinary figures.
A man with so much prominence as a coach and executive, it’s easy to forget Sather was an NHL player for parts of 10 seasons. He played for Boston, Pittsburgh, New York, St. Louis, Montreal and Minnesota over 658 career games.
Sather and the Great One have a long-standing relationship dating back to Gretzky’s rookie season with the Oilers in 1979. They won four Stanley Cups together in Edmonton.Reuters
Sather spent parts of 13 seasons behind the bench as an NHL head coach. With a career record of 497-307, he is 24th on the all-time wins list. Sather won four Stanley Cups and a Jack Adams award during his time as a coach with the Oilers.
More than just a hockey player, a coach or general manager, Sather always had a reputation as an astute businessman.
Sather, as general Manager and president of the New York Rangers, works the phones during the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, with his favourite prop, an unlit cigar, hanging from his mouth.Bruce Bennett
Sather joined members of the 1984 Stanley Cup champion Oilers to reminisce of past glories at a reunion in October, 2014. From left, Jari Kurri, Paul Coffey and Glen Sather.Jason Franson
Sather said goodbye to the Edmonton Oilers at a press conference in May 2000, stepping down as president and general manager after 24 years with the organization.Adrian Wyld
Sather, left, was at the helm of the Edmonton Oilers dynasty of the 1980s. In this 1988 photo, with Wayne Gretzky (centre) and assistant coach John Muckler (right), the club was celebrates its fourth, and last, championship of the decade.Gary Hershorn/Reuters
The Oilers cleaned up at the 1986 NHL Awards. Paul Coffey, left, took home the Norris Trophy, while Wayne Gretzky (centre) was awarded the Art Ross and the Hart Trophy. Sather, pictured right, won his first and only Jack Adams award.Mike Blake/Reuters
Sather, pictured behind the Oilers' bench during the 1984 Stanley Cup finals, oversaw a run of five Cups in seven years as coach and general manager for Edmonton, creating a dynasty considered one of the greatest ever.The Associated Press