Arthur Berglund Obituary

Berglund
ARTHUR JAMES BERGLUND
September 4, 1940 December 19, 2020
Arthur James Berglund completed his well-traveled and storied time on earth and teed off in heaven on December 19 at the age of 80. The sport of hockey has lost one of its champions, and his friends and family mourn the loss of a beloved, entertaining, loving and sincere character.
Art was born in Fort Frances, Ontario on September 4, 1940 to Liz and Eddie Berglund. According to his mom, Art spent his childhood "climbing up in the rafters" at the local curling rink - her shorthand way of saying he was always busy and rambunctious. ("No kidding," say those who knew Art). Along with his passion for the sport of hockey, he also excelled at curling. While in high school, his team won the Manitoba Schoolboys Curling Championship in 1958, going on to nationals in Prince Edward Island.
It was hockey that brought Art to Colorado College (Colorado Springs, CO) where he was the leading scorer for the Tigers during his senior season in 1963. After playing professional hockey in Switzerland and Austria, he managed the Broadmoor World Arena in Colorado Springs, CO for 13 years.
Art was part of the staff of more than 30 U.S. National teams, including six Olympic squads and eight National Junior Teams, and had a widespread impact on international hockey. He also helped design the blueprint for the first women's Olympic team and took great pride in their 1998 Olympic gold medal.
Art was general manager of the 1976 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team and numerous U.S. National Junior Teams and U.S. Men's National Teams. He also served as an NHL scout for the St. Louis Blues and as director of player recruitment for the Colorado Rockies. In 1984, he joined USA Hockey's national office staff as its director of national teams and international activities, eventually being named senior director of international administration.
Art added to his hockey resume by chairing the 1984 U.S. Olympic Player Selection Committee and managing his second U.S. Olympic Men's Team in 1988. He was also director of player personnel for three U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Teams including the silver medal-winning squad at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympic Winter Games.
The NHL awarded Art its prestigious Lester Patrick Award for his outstanding contributions to the sport of hockey in the United States. He was also awarded the American Hockey Coaches Association Jim Fullerton Award, which annually recognizes an individual who demonstrates a love for the purity of the sport, and USA Hockey's Builders Award for his lasting contributions to the long-term growth and success of USA Hockey.
Art was inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 2010 and is also a member of the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame (2004), the Colorado College Athletic Hall of Fame (2006), the Colorado Springs Hall of Fame (2008), the International Ice Hockey Federation Hall of Fame (2008) and the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame (2011).
Retirement in 2005 gave Art the opportunity to devote more time to his other favorite sport - golf. A near-scratch golfer in his prime, he with his wife Char played countless rounds at his beloved Broadmoor Golf Club where he was a legacy member, frequenting the course and the grill until very recently. He had more Golden Bees than a beehive. He and Char also traveled extensively, golfing and visiting with many family and friends all over the world.
Art is celebrating being reunited in heaven with his beloved Char, his older brother Jon, and his parents. Left here on earth to mourn the loss of Art are his sister-in-law Millie Berglund; niece Linda (Joel) Krueger; nephew Michael (Paula) Berglund; great nieces & nephews Jordan, Lukas, Jon and Laura Krueger and Sam, Katy and Nick Berglund (all Minneapolis, MN); step-daughters Mary Catherine (Martin) Jacobi (Bern, Switzerland) and Josselyn Berkey (Aaron) Stern (Fort Collins, CO); and their beloved children for whom he was lovingly their "Papa Art": Anika, Luca, Noah and Marlena Jacobi, and Parker, Cohen, Brooks and Smith Stern; the Warner & Nickerson cousins, and many other friends all over the USA and the world.
A service and celebration of life will be held in the future when COVID conditions permit. If so moved to make a monetary donation in Art's name, The USA Hockey Foundation (usahockeyfoundation.com) and The First Tee of Pikes Peak (firstteepikespeak.org) were both very near and dear to Art. For any who want to otherwise honor his memory: Keep the faith, Live fiercely, Love endlessly, Mentor others, and "Climb the rafters." With that, we leave you with some of Art's favorite quotes:
"It's a great day for hockey" - Bob Johnson
"If you can't play a sport, be a sport!" - Art Berglund
"Rage On!" - Art Berglund