User:Christopher Shepherd/sandbox

GORDY LOFQUIST

Gordon B. Lofquist, Jr. (born March 1, 1952) is a former American football player and coach. He graduated from Winona (Minnesota) Senior High School in 1970 and played collegiately for the South Dakota State Jackrabbits . He started as a defensive lineman all four years (1970 - 1974) and "was known on the college field for his quickness, speed and enthusiasm for the game."  He was drafted in 1974 by the Chicago Fire of the World Football League. But before the WFL season began, he signed as an undrafted free agent to play middle linebacker with the Minnesota Vikings in the NFL  He played for the Minnesota Vikings in five Preseason games against the Denver Broncos, Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills, St. Louis Cardinals and San Diego Chargers . An ankle injury ended his playing career, and then the NFL voided his contract, along with several other players, in their inter-league dispute with the newly formed WFL.

He became an Assistant Coach (Defensive line, Linebackers) at Winona State University in 1975 and left WSU the next year to become the Head Football Coach at Adams-Friendship (Wisconsin) High School and then Head Football Coach at Breck School in Minneapolis. In 1979, he left football to begin a career as an entrepreneurial businessman.

His son is Sam Lofquist, professional hockey player who played with the Guelph Storm (OHL), IK Oskarshamn (Sweden Allsvenskan), Stockholm Sweden Djurgardens IF Hockey, Saimaan Pallo (SaiPa) in Finnish SM-liiga, Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod in Russian Kontinental Hockey League and EHC Biel in Swiss National League.