Member of Duluth Denfeld's first hockey team dies

Robert (Evan) Nyhus, a member of Duluth Denfeld High School’s first hockey team in 1945-46 who later played at Minnesota Duluth and the University of Minnesota, died Aug. 3 in San Diego, Calif. He was 84.

Nyhus was a right winger and played on a line with left winger Don Bodin and center Russ Strom from their undefeated youth days at Wheeler Field (dubbed the “Wheeler Whiz Kids”) and at UMD, as freshmen in 1948-49, and then for two years with the Gophers in 1949-51. All three also served in the U.S. Navy, joining in 1946.

“We didn’t skate all that well, but we passed the puck better than most lines, and we could score,” Bodin told the News Tribune in 2009.

Nyhus earned a business administration degree and worked in accounting for AT&T, and later for the Dennison Corporation, which manufactures adhesive

materials.

He was married with two children and two grandchildren. Services will be held Monday in San Diego. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the University of Minnesota men’s hockey program on his behalf.

Tags: sports, hockey, preps, duluth, obituaries, updates

Sign the guestbook (1 comment)

Comments posted on this page do not reflect opinions of Forum Communications Company. Forum Communications Company does not endorse and is not responsible for any statement, opinion, advice given or made. All replies are subject to approval and must follow Forum Communications Company guidelines concerning statements of libel, personal attacks or defamation of character. Replies in the "Talk About It" section that criticize a person by name may not be posted, unless that person is openly involved in a public issue. Comments written in all capital letters or bold print will not be considered for inclusion in the forum.

Terms & Conditions