Glen Sather
The architect of the Edmonton Oilers' 1980s dynasty, he built a fast, skilled team that dominated the NHL and changed how hockey was played.
Born 1943 (age 83)·Canadian ice hockey player, coach and executive·Birthday: September 2·The Silent Generation
Biography
Glen Sather's legacy is the Edmonton Oilers' revolution. As coach and general manager, he didn't just assemble a team; he curated a philosophy. In the late 1970s, he took over a struggling World Hockey Association franchise and, upon its NHL merger, bet on a teenage phenomenon named Wayne Gretzky. Sather surrounded Gretzky with a cohort of brilliant, offensive-minded players—Mark Messier, Jari Kurri, Paul Coffey—and unleashed them. He championed a style of play built on speed, puck possession, and relentless attack, a stark contrast to the NHL's more physical norms. The result was five Stanley Cup championships in seven years, a dynasty that captivated the sport. Sather later moved to the New York Rangers, ending a 54-year championship drought as President in 1994, and spent decades as a central figure in their front office. His impact is measured in trophies, but also in the enduring template for offensive hockey that he helped write.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Glen was born in 1943, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Glen Was Born
The biggest hits of 1943
#1 Movie
For Whom the Bell Tolls
Best Picture
Casablanca
Glen's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1943Born
Allies invade Sicily; Battle of Stalingrad ends
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,290Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I've Heard That Song Before" — Harry JamesBest Picture: Casablanca
1948Started school
Israel declares independence; Berlin Blockade begins
Gas: $0.26/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Twelfth Street Rag" — Pee Wee HuntBest Picture: Hamlet
1956Became a teenager
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $10,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Heartbreak Hotel" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: Around the World in 80 Days
1959Could drive
Fidel Castro takes power in Cuba
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $12,400Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"The Battle of New Orleans" — Johnny HortonBest Picture: Ben-Hur
1961Could vote
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1964Turned 21
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1973Turned 30
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
1983Turned 40
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1993Turned 50
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
2003Turned 60
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2013Turned 70
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 80
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 83 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- As General Manager and Coach, led the Edmonton Oilers to five Stanley Cup championships (1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1990).
- Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1997 in the Builder category for his executive and coaching impact.
- Served as President of the New York Rangers when they won the 1994 Stanley Cup, their first in 54 years.
- Won the Jack Adams Award as the NHL's top coach in 1986.
Did You Know?
His nickname, "Slats," dates back to his playing days as a hard-checking forward for several NHL teams.
He was a member of the 1969 Boston Bruins team that featured Phil Esposito and Bobby Orr.
Sather briefly played for the Canadian national team in the 1968 Olympics.
He is one of only a few individuals to have their jersey number (99) retired by the Edmonton Oilers, an honor shared with Wayne Gretzky.
“We didn't just want to win; we wanted to change how the game was played.”
