Tragic news strikes the hockey community following death of respected coach

Mike Sertich was a well known and respected head coach for the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs, and has tragically passed away at the age of 77 earlier in the week.

Sertich was the head coach for the Bulldogs for 17 years as he coached them from 1983-2000, and ended up leading them to back-to-back WCHA championships.

He would also go on to win three straigh WCHA coach of the year awards from 1983-1985, and would also win another one in 1993.

The Bulldogs released an official statement on the passing of Mike Sertich:

"Sertich, who was at the helm of the UMD program from 1982-2000, guided UMD to all three of its Western Collegiate Hockey Association regular season titles (1984-85 and 1993), both of its league playoff championships (1984-85) and its first four NCAA postseason berths (1983-85 and 1993). A native of Virginia, Minn., Sertich amassed an overall career record of 350-328-44. He was the recipient of the 1984 Spencer Penrose Award (American Hockey Coaches Association Coach of the Year) after his Bulldogs advanced to the NCAA title game against Bowling Green in Lake Placid, N.Y., and fell to the Falcons 5-4 after a four overtime thriller. Sertich returned UMD to the 1985 NCAA Frozen Four the following year and set a club mark for victories in the process (36-9-3 overall), and is one of just two four-time winners of the WCHA Coach of the Year Award (1983-85 and 1993) and the only individual to attain that honor three seasons in a row. Under Sertich, UMD produced three Hobey Baker Memorial Award winners (Tom Kurvers in 1984, Bill Watson in 1985 and Chris Marinucci in 1994), 11 NCAA All-Americans, five WCHA Player of the Year honorees, 10 Olympians and 21 future National Hockey League performers during his 18-year tenure."

Our thoughts and prayers are with his friends and family as they go through this tough time.

Rest in peace Mike Sertich.

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