Doug Woog

Fellow South St. Paul alum and former Gopher hockey coach Doug Woog passed away today. He was my favorite Gopher coach. His sister was also my kindergarten teacher. Lol.
DT

Bummer. Dougie had been fighting health problems for quite a while. He was my senior counselor in High School. We had some interesting conversations. R.I.P. coach!

Steve

That’s very sad.
RIP Coach Woog.

RIP Mr. Woog.

I thought it was cool that he only recruited Mn kids and was successful doing it and I’m a Badger fan.
R.I.P. coach

Lost a good one. Godspeed, coach

Woooooooooog.

Sad day. RIP

Big surprise to me. Didn’t know he was fighting serious health issues. It’s really sort of an end to an entire era for me. He was the only big time coach I was aware of in my late teens when the North Stars were gone. The Gophs were the big ticket and it was such an encouraging thought that they were all MN kids playing for him.

My kid skated at the arena named for him this morning. A true MN hockey legend. RIP!

His life was an example of CLASS !
RIP Coach

Growing up without pro hockey in Minnesota, turning on the tv Friday and Saturday nights to watch the gophers was something I always looked forward to. He embodied and thrived on MN hockey with MN kids and had all kinds of success with the way he did it.

Thinking of that era of brings back a lot of memories being at my grandparents house and hearing my grandma sing the fight song after every goal.

Something I haven’t thought about in a long time, thanks for the memories Wooger. RIP

Wooger was very successful with the Gophers while recruiting predominately Minnesota kids. The battles with The North Dakota Sioux (Canadians) were some of the best Hockey games for a long time. But lets not forget that his recruiting or lack of recruiting outside of Minnesota is what got him run out.

I always found him very good on TV also. He was a bit bias but he also knew the game and the kids.

As far as coaches in this state he should be remembered with Kelley, Grant, Ikola for running winning and running clean programs.

My condolences to his entire family and his Hockey family.

4 years ago in April I was sitting on a patio in fort Myers with my wife sister and brother-in-law. I don’t remember how it happened, bit I believe I overheard Minnesota in a conversation 2 gentleman were having at the table next to us.

I glanced over and it took about 2 seconds to recognize one of the men was Doug Woog. I said his name to be sure and they greeted us. We spent about 15-30 minutes talking to them and they didn’t seem to mind at all. In fact I could tell the other guy was happy to see him getting recognition and being able to talk a little about him and the gophers.

I wasn’t aware of the Parkinson’s before meeting him, but it became apparent when we talked to him. Not that he was really bad, but you knew by some of his comments.

We actually tried excusing ourselves when their lunch came but they asked us to stay and that it was no bother.

I Am grateful for the time we spent talking to him about his coaching. I hope we brought a little happiness to him as well.

It’s sad to hear, but I am sure he is in a better place now. Thanks for talking to us that day coach.

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^^^^ Very cool story.

RIP, Mr. Woog.

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Years ago another there was a fund raiser/ exhibition Hockey game at Wakota Arena (later renamed Doug Woog Arena). This event was for Don “Whitey” Willer, another fixture in South St. Paul Hockey. Between periods I was on my way to the men’s room when who should I see walking towards me but Glen Sonmor himself! I said “Hiya Glenn” and stuck out my hand. Coach Sonmor smiled, shook my hand, and said “Great to see you too!”. Then a heard a voice from behind me say “Yea, right Steve. Like you know Glen Sonmor!”. It was Wooger giving me the needle. I told him of course I know Sonmor; I had seen him on TV a thousand times.

Another Woog story. When I was in high school he was my senior counselor. We had an English teacher that was a nut case. She had given us a test that included questions like “Why do you think the author wrote the book? and “What is your opinion of…..”. Being 18 years old I had answered in an obnoxious manner and “failed” the test. I went screaming to Doug about this. He asked what the problem was and I pointed at the stupid questions and said “Doug, this is just b… S….”. Coacjh Woog looked me in the eye and said. “Look, you know it’s B.S., I know it’s B.S., but IT DOESN’T MATTER. Just giver her the answers she wants and get on with your life.” After a stunned few seconds he continued “Everywhere you go in the rest of your life, you will be dealing with some B.S. Just deal with it.” That turned out to be some of the most sound advice I’ve ever gotten.

Steve