“Not many ways out of this cold northern town
You work in the mill and get laid in the ground
If you're gonna jump it will be with the game
Real fast and tough is the only clear lane to the Big League…”

As soon as a kid is old enough to skate most Canadian fathers have one thing in mind, and as Tom Cochrane sings in the classic Canadian tune “Big League,” it’s to see their son do what they all wished they had done-make it to the show.

On February 10th the father of a legendary family from Northern Alberta’s town of Viking, Louis Sutter, passed away after a lengthy battle with illness.

Sutter was the proud father of seven sons, six of which played NHL hockey and remain very involved today, making Louis the envy of most every hockey dad before him and those to follow.

Brian Sutter,48, is the head coach of the Chicago Blackhawks; Darryl Sutter,46, is the head coach of the Calgary Flames; Duane Sutter,44, is the director of player development for the Florida Panthers; Brent Sutter,42, is the head coach of the Red Deer Rebels and most recently the Canadian National Junior team; Rich and Ron Sutter,41, are both NHL pro scouts (Rich for the Wild, Ron for the Flames).

Just about every kid that’s played minor hockey in Alberta knows about Viking and the legacy that the Sutter family has out that way, so it’s very sad for that community to suffer such a loss, and it’s one that is no doubt felt throughout the province and the country.

All the folks at Gongshow Hockey would like to send out our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of the Sutter family and wish them well as they grieve the memory of Louis Sutter; he may be gone, but the legacy and story that he has left behind will never be.