The Sutter Brothers (as players)

[The Panther]

Brian, Darryl, Duane, Brent, Ron, Rich...

All 6:

They should make a movie about this family...!

What are your memories of them? Which player was best?

I think I can remember seeing 4 of them, the exceptions maybe being Brian and Darryl, who were reaching the end when I was 10 or 12. (I may have seen them play once or twice, not sure.) Duane and Brent both went to the Islanders, Duane getting in all four Cups and Brent two. Duane strangely got hot in the '83 playoff run, with 21 points and a +16 in 20 games, but was otherwise known more as a two-way checker. Brent was generally regarded as the most talented player of the lot, famously having that All-Star 1984-85 season playing with Bossy and Tonelli, both otherwise being a solid 30-goal, 65-point rugged scorer and checker. He also played on the three winning Canada Cup teams in '84, '87, and '91. He ended up with 610 points in 694 games, which ain't too shabby. Ron and Rich I remember as Flyers in the mid-80s (esp. Ron), but it seems like Rich kind of bounced around from team a team a lot (seven teams in 874 games!). Would it be fair to say Rich was the least distinguished, as a player?

Some of these guys have gone on to successful coaching/management careers, of course, but just focusing on them as players, what did you think of each? Who was best?

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[Passchendaele]

Then you've got Brandon, Brett, Brody, who played in the NHL. Shaun and Luke were drafted and played pro hockey. Riley is a top prospect for '18..

Must be something in the water in Viking, AB.

 

[The Panther]

Must be something in the water in Viking, AB.

Steroids?

Just kidding. I grew up in a town exactly like Viking (and not far away), but unfortunately I didn't get a pro-hockey gene...

 

[Killion]

... I grew up in a town exactly like Viking (and not far away), but unfortunately I didn't get a pro-hockey gene...

... oh well.... big in Japan TP; www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVdfDoXHdZc

 

[Big Phil]

6 Sutter brothers made the NHL.............the 7th? He wins the lottery. Literally, he did. How many people knew that? No he didn't play in the NHL but I believe he did play hockey. So in case you think that it might suck to be the only brother than didn't make the NHL, he at least won a chunk of change in the lottery.

I loved the Sutters. Always did. Even if they played on a team I didn't like. You were always in better shape if you had a Sutter on your team than if you didn't. My favourite was Brent. People forget, before Gretzky and Lemieux made their magic in Game 3 of the 1987 Canada Cup it was Sutter who was one of the grinders that helped Canada get back into that game in the first place.

I always liked them as coaches too. No-nonsense types that wanted to win. I don't know how they do in the touchy-feely modern NHL where you can't hurt any player's feelings but, like Mike Keenan (yes even him) I'd want them to coach my team anyday of the week.

 

[BenchBrawl]

6 Sutter brothers made the NHL.............the 7th? He wins the lottery. Literally, he did. How many people knew that? No he didn't play in the NHL but I believe he did play hockey. So in case you think that it might suck to be the only brother than didn't make the NHL, he at least won a chunk of change in the lottery.

I loved the Sutters. Always did. Even if they played on a team I didn't like. You were always in better shape if you had a Sutter on your team than if you didn't. My favourite was Brent. People forget, before Gretzky and Lemieux made their magic in Game 3 of the 1987 Canada Cup it was Sutter who was one of the grinders that helped Canada get back into that game in the first place.

I always liked them as coaches too. No-nonsense types that wanted to win. I don't know how they do in the touchy-feely modern NHL where you can't hurt any player's feelings but, like Mike Keenan (yes even him) I'd want them to coach my team anyday of the week.

No freaking way wow.Lucky family.

 

[Frank the Tank]

Gary, the oldest Sutter brother, was just as talented as his younger brothers, and didn't play junior hockey for unknown reasons (there were lots of rumors around town though as to why). For example, Brian and the others headed off to Red Deer and/or Lethbridge to advance their hockey careers. Gary stayed around Viking, freelanced as a scout, and coached Midget hockey for a bit. As mentioned, he did win the lottery later in life after he moved to BC.

 

[Big Phil]

Gary, the oldest Sutter brother, was just as talented as his younger brothers, and didn't play junior hockey for unknown reasons (there were lots of rumors around town though as to why). For example, Brian and the others headed off to Red Deer and/or Lethbridge to advance their hockey careers. Gary stayed around Viking, freelanced as a scout, and coached Midget hockey for a bit. As mentioned, he did win the lottery later in life after he moved to BC.

Well, I have to ask if only out of sheer curiosity.............why?

 

[Laphroaig]

I always found it cool that two brothers were centres, two played left wing and two played right wing. All six were renowned for hard work and going to the dirty areas. Brent and Duane won Cups with the Islanders and Brent was good enough to play for Canada in the 1987 Canada Cup. All six were solid pros but if I had to rank them I'd put Brent first followed by Brian, Ron, Darryl, Duane and Rich.

 

[vadim sharifijanov]

a few things, which may or may not be true, that i've heard or read about gary sutter over the years:

- he and some guys from work would pool together lottery tickets, that's how he eventually won. so it's not like he won some giant jackpot all by himself though i think he did score more than a mill.

- he declined to go major junior because of a woman.


can anyone tell me about darryl sutter as a player? he has some of the highest highs of any sutter. with a healthy career could he have been in brian/brent's tier?

 

[Frank the Tank]

 

[Staniowski]

Quite a few years ago, I heard Darryl give a radio interview. The interviewer asked him who among the 6 brothers was the best player. Darryl responded by saying that he understands that hockey fans might debate this but in the family they all agree - Brent was the best player and he was always the best since he was a young boy.

 

[Guy Gadowsky]

I'm surprised they all turned pro as forwards. Figured the youngest would have been forced to play D or goalie

 

[Howie Hodge]

Rich Sutter anecdote.

Late in Larry Playfair's career he slashed Rich across the ankle in a game. Rich challenges Larry to fight, and they do.

Predictably Rich gets pummeled.

Larry said that was the moment he lost his desire to fight anymore after dusting Rich. This would have been late in the 198-89 season.

Larry played a couple games the next season, and hung up the skates. Larry also had a knee injury the previous year, but said he didn't feel like fighting anymore, as he respected Sutter, but had to fight him...

 

[tony d]

Such a great hockey family. All 6 of them played in the NHL and some have gone into coaching (Brian and Darryl have been very good coaches), as players I'd rank them as follows:

Brian
Brent
Ron
Duane
Darryl
Rich

 

[Bluesguru]

The passion to win, to fight for his team, to never give up and to always believe his team could win no matter what --- that was what Brian Sutter was all about.