As naturally as many families become associated with specific industries that
they work within, it';s become commonplace for families to become associated
with specific sports in specific parts of the world. Within the hockey world,
arguably the most influential family in history - with apologies to Maurice and
 Henri Richard - is the Sutter family. Through two generations, the six Sutters
 have crisscrossed the National Hockey League as players, executives and
humanitarians. The family';s prominence in hockey in the province of Alberta
was cemented in 2017 when they were collectively inducted into the Alberta
Hockey Hall of Fame.Darryl Sutter (Jim O';Connor-US PRESSWIRE)

The on-ice contributions of the Sutter family are well documented, but their
impact on hockey off the ice - particularly in Alberta - may be understated.The
 Original Six Sutter Brothers

Louis and Grace Sutter married in the early 1950s and settled on a farm near
Viking, Alberta - roughly an hour and a half drive southeast of Edmonton. The
couple had seven children, all boys, between 1954 and 1963. All seven boys
worked on the farm and played minor hockey in the area. Six of their seven boys
 went on to play major junior hockey and then moved onto the NHL - the eldest
son, Gary (born 1954), opted not to head to his try-out for the Alberta Junior
Hockey League';s Red Deer Rustlers and stayed home on the family farm.

Here';s how the other six brothers fared in hockey.

Brian (born 1956), a left wing, played for the AJHL';s Red Deer Rustlers and
the WHL';s Lethbridge Broncos. He was drafted by the St Louis Blues in the 1976
 NHL Draft and turned pro immediately, beginning a 779-game NHL career that was
 spent entirely with the Blues. Following his 1988 retirement, he began an
extensive coaching career that spanned NHL stops in St. Louis, Boston, Calgary
and Chicago. He also coached the Red Deer Rebels in 2007-08 and more recently
has served as bench boss for the Chinook senior hockey league';s Bentley
Generals and Innisfail Eagles.Darryl (born 1958), a left wing, played for the
Rustlers and Broncos. He was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 1978 NHL
Draft and went pro following a stint playing in Japan for the Iwakura
Tomakomai. He played exclusively for the Blackhawks before retiring and
starting a lengthy coaching career. He had stints behind the bench in Chicago,
San Jose, Calgary and Los Angeles, heading to the Stanley Cup Final three times
 and winning two Cups (both with the Kings). He also served as the general
manager of the Flames from 2003-10.Duane (born 1960), a right wing, played for
the Rustlers and Broncos. He was drafted by the New York Islanders in the 1979
NHL Draft and spent his pro career with the Islanders and Blackhawks. He won
four Stanley Cups as part of the Islanders ';80s dynasty. After his retirement,
 Duane dabbled in a lot of things: scouting for Chicago, coaching for the
IHL';s Indianapolis Ice, WHL';s Medicine Hat Tigers and the NHL';s Florida
Panthers. He eventually found his niche in player development and scouting,
working with the Panthers, Flames and Edmonton Oilers in that capacity.Brent
(born 1962), a center, played for the Rustlers and Broncos. He was drafted by
the Islanders in 1980 and spent his pro career with them and the Blackhawks. He
 won three Cups as part of the Islanders dynasty, three of them alongside older
 brother Duane. Upon retirement, he went back to Central Alberta: he';s been
the owner and president of the WHL';s Red Deer Rebels continuously since 1999
and has been their general manager and head coach when he hasn';t been tied up
with NHL coaching jobs - he had stints with New Jersey and Calgary.Rich (born
1963), a right wing, played for the Rustlers and Broncos. After being drafted
by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1982, Rich bounced around a bit; he had NHL stops
 in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Vancouver, St. Louis, Chicago, Tampa Bay and
Chicago. His final pro season (1994-95) saw him spend time with three different
 NHL clubs. Since hanging up his skates, he';s scouted for Minnesota, Phoenix
and Columbus and spent time with the Lethbridge Hurricanes and the University
of Lethbridge.Ron (born 1963), a center, played for the Rustlers and Broncos.
He was drafted by 1982 by the Philadelphia Flyers in 1982, then bounced around
the NHL in a similar fashion to his twin Rich; Ron spent time with
Philadelphia, St. Louis, Quebec, the Islanders, San Jose and Calgary. Ron was
the only brother to play for an Alberta NHL team, and has remained with the
Flames organization in scouting and player development since his retirement.

Brent Sutter (ffabiano/Flickr)

For the curious, the twins played together in Philadelphia (1983-86) and St.
Louis (1991-93). Rich and Ron played against Duane and Brent on October 30,
1983, the first time in NHL history four brother were involved in a single
game. Rich is curiously the only one of the original six Sutter brothers to
never be employed by the Flames at one time or another. Duane is the only
brother to have any ties with the Oilers. Gary was the only brother that
regularly played on the blueline.

SutterGPGAPtsPIMDrafted

Brent1,1113634668291,05417th overall in 1980 (Islanders)

Brian7793033336361,78620th overall in 1976 (Blues)

Ron1,0932053305351,3524th overall in 1982 (Flyers)

Duane7311392033421,33317th overall in 1979 (Islanders)

Rich8741491663151,41110th overall in 1982 (Penguins)

Darryl406161118279288179th overall in 1978 (Blackhawks)

(Stats via Elite Prospects)The Next Generation of Sutters

Starting in 1980, when the first generation of Sutters were still
well-established as NHL players, the brothers began having children of their
own.Brandon Sutter (Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports)

Shaun, Brian';s son (born 1980), a right wing, played for the WHL';s Lethbridge
 Hurricanes, Medicine Hat Tigers and Calgary Hitmen. He was drafted by the
Flames in 1998 - while his father was coaching the team but never made much
noise as a pro. He bounced around the AHL, ECHL and Europe before retiring and
joining the front office of the Rebels.Brett, Darryl';s son (born 1987), a left
 wing, played for the WHL';s Kootenay Ice and Red Deer Rebels. He was drafted
by the Flames in 2005 - while his father was general manager. He';s established
 himself as a pretty solid minor league player, though his NHL stints with
Calgary and Carolina were unremarkable - except when his own father traded him
following an off-ice incident during a Flames road trip.Merrick, Brent';s son
(born 1987), a forward, played in the AJHL with the Canmore Eagles, but never
progressed to the WHL. He instead dove into the front office of the Rebels,
where he';s been a vice-president for several seasons.Brandon, Brent';s son
(born 1989), a center, played for the WHL';s Rebels and was drafted by the
Carolina Hurricanes in 2007. He';s had NHL stints with Carolina, Pittsburgh and
 Vancouver, where he currently plays.Brody, Duane';s son (born 1991), a center,
 played for the WHL';s Saskatoon Blades and Hurricanes before being drafted by
the Carolina Hurricanes in 2011. He never really got an NHL foothold and has
bounced around the minors in recent years.Lukas, Rich';s son (born 1993), a
center, played for the WHL';s Blades and Rebels. He was drafted twice; in 2012
by the Winnipeg Jets and in 2014 by the Islanders. He bounced around minor pro
for a couple seasons before heading to the University of Lethbridge.Riley,
Ron';s son (born 1999), a right wing, plays for the WHL';s Everett Silvertips.
He';s eligible for selection in the 2018 NHL Draft. (was drafted by the
Capitals)

There was one point in 2011-12 where Brett, Brandon and Brody were all playing
pro in the Carolina organization.The Sutter Family Legacy

From 1976-77 to 2000-01, at least one Sutter brother was continuously on an NHL
 roster. From 1979-80 to 1997-98, multiple Sutters were in the NHL. Heck, from
1982-83 to 1986-87, all six brothers were NHLers. There was just a seven-season
 gap between Ron Sutter';s NHL departure and Brandon and Brett Sutter playing
in the NHL in 2008-09.

Over the last 45 years, 32 seasons have seen at least one Sutter involved in
Alberta hockey in a major capacity - either as a player or in an off-ice role.
While not quite as successful on the ice as their fathers, the younger Sutters
have transitioned into off-ice roles extremely quickly - their fathers were
usually in the 40s when they began new roles, while many of the younger general
 leapt into those roles in their 20s.

To borrow some phrasing from another Alberta icon, pro wrestler Bret "The
Hitman" Hart: we can';t say there wouldn';t be hockey in Alberta without the
Sutter brothers, but we can say it wouldn';t be as good. Considering how many
of the next generation are intricately involved in the game, their impact will
continue to be felt for decades to come.

** originally published in Aug. 2017

The post The Sutter Family Has Deep Roots in Alberta Hockey appeared first on
The Hockey Writers.

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