Glen Hanlon
A steadfast NHL goaltender who transformed from a reliable backup into a respected coach and architect for European hockey nations.
Born 1957 (age 69)·Canadian ice hockey goaltender·Birthday: February 20·Baby Boomers
Biography
Glen Hanlon's hockey journey is one of quiet resilience and a sharp tactical mind. The native of Brandon, Manitoba, carved out a solid decade-long NHL career primarily as a backup, most notably with the New York Rangers and Detroit Red Wings. He was known for his workmanlike approach and consistency rather than flashy saves. After retiring, Hanlon found his true calling behind the bench. He served as head coach of the Vancouver Canucks and later became instrumental in developing international hockey programs. His most significant impact came in Europe, where he took the helm of the Belarusian national team, famously leading them to a stunning upset over Sweden in the 2002 Olympics. He later guided the Slovakian and Swiss national programs, earning a reputation as a builder who could elevate teams outside the traditional powerhouses with structure and discipline.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Glen was born in 1957, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Glen Was Born
The biggest hits of 1957
#1 Movie
The Bridge on the River Kwai
Best Picture
The Bridge on the River Kwai
#1 TV Show
Gunsmoke
Glen's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1957Born
Sputnik launches the Space Age
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $10,550Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"All Shook Up" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: The Bridge on the River Kwai
1962Started school
Cuban Missile Crisis brings the world to the brink
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,800Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Stranger on the Shore" — Acker BilkBest Picture: Lawrence of Arabia
1970Became a teenager
First Earth Day; The Beatles break up
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $17,000Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Bridge over Troubled Water" — Simon & GarfunkelBest Picture: Patton
1973Could drive
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1975Could vote
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1978Turned 21
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1987Turned 30
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1997Turned 40
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2007Turned 50
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 60
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 69 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played 477 NHL games across four teams, recording 19 shutouts.
- Served as head coach of the Vancouver Canucks from 2002 to 2006.
- Coached Belarus to a historic 4-3 victory over Sweden in the 2002 Winter Olympics quarterfinals.
- Later served as head coach for the Slovakian and Swiss national men's hockey teams.
Did You Know?
He was drafted 40th overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the 1977 NHL Amateur Draft.
He backstopped the New York Rangers to the 1986 Stanley Cup semifinals.
He won a bronze medal as a player with Team Canada at the 1978 World Championships.
After his NHL coaching stint, he spent years as a head coach in the Finnish Liiga.
“You have to be ready when your number is called, no matter how long you wait.”
