Art Berglund, the American hockey administrator who helped build the U.S. international men and junior squads, today passed away at the age of 80.

Berglund, a Canadian by birth, first joined USA Hockey as a staff member at their headquarters in Colorado Springs in 1973, following his collegiate career at nearby Colorado College and a brief career as a player in Austria and Switzerland. Berglund first managed the U.S. men’s team at the World Championships from 1973-75, before managing his first Olympic team for the 1976 Innsbruck Games, as well as the Under-20 squad at the first official World Junior Championship in 1977.

Berglund would go on to manage seven World Junior squads between 1977 and 1991, along with another five World Championship teams, and the 1990 Goodwill Games squad that won Silver in Tacoma. Berglund would serve as a Senior Advisor to the World Junior team between 1992-96 and Team Manager for the World Championships in 2004 and 2005, and was Director of Player Personnel for Team USA at both the 1992 and 2002 Olympics, winning Silver at the latter. Berglund would also win a handful of Bronze medals, at the 1986 and 1992 World Juniors and 2004 World Championships.

Our condolences go out to the Berglund family, as well as the extended hockey communities across the United States, on the death of this key architect of USA Hockey as we know it today.

Photo Credit: U.S. Hockey Hall Of Fame – IIHF – HHOF – IOC