Former University of Minnesota Duluth men's hockey head coach Gustaf "Gus Hendrickson, who coached the Bulldogs from 1975-1982, passed away Thursday, January 25 in Grand Rapids, Minn. He was 83.
Hendrickson coached at Grand Rapids High School for five years (1971-75), leading the program to its first state championship in 1974-75 before leaving for UMD. After the Bulldogs missed the postseason for their first two seasons under Hendrickson, the native of Eveleth, Minn., built UMD back into postseason contenders, bringing future Olympic gold medalists Mark Pavelich and John Harrington to UMD, as well as Bulldog standout and NHL star Curt Giles and 1983-84 Hobey Baker Award winner Tom Kurvers. Over the 1978-79 season, Henderickson's Bulldogs compiled just their second 20-plus win season in program history. In his seven seasons, UMD was 110-146-11 over Hendrickson's tenure and he was inducted into the Minnesota Hockey Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1992
Hendrickson played for MIchigan State University for three seasons in the early 1960s, helping the team to a third-place finish in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association tournament during his final year of eligibility.
A visitation will be held Thursday, February 1, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Grand Rapids, Minn. A memorial service will follow at 11:00 a.m.