SHAUN SUTTER DID NOT FLAUNT HIS FAMOUS BLOOLINES TO LAND A JOB WITH THE REGINA PATS

Taken from the Regina Pats Official Web Site:

- http://www.reginapats.com/ -



WELCOME - SHAUN - AND - YOUR - WIFE - TO -

REGINA - WE - WISH - YOU - ALL - THE - BEST

Shaun Sutter didn't flaunt his famous bloodlines to land a job with the Regina Pats, but he did provide plenty of DNA evidence.

That's part of what convinced the Pats that Sutter, despite no previous coaching experience, was the right man to become their new top assistant. As previously reported by the Leader-Post, Sutter — the 29-year-old son of former NHL coach-of-the-year Brian Sutter — finalized a two-year contract with the WHL club on Monday.

"With my last name, there are different things that go with it, but I've always tried to do things on my own," Sutter said from his home in Sylvan Lake, Alta. "I like to make my own way in the world. There are a lot of Sutters here in Alberta. There wasn't any in Saskatchewan so I figured I better make my way out there."

But all joking aside . . .

"I've never used my name to get a job or get a foot in the door," he continued. "I don't have that kind of personality. In a lot of ways it has probably hurt me more than it has helped me. I'm obviously proud of my family and everything they've done and the people they are but this is definitely something as far as getting into coaching that I wanted to make my own way."

Pats head coach Curtis Hunt confirmed that Sutter made no attempt during the interview process to promote himself through his family name.

"He came in and was his own person," said Hunt. "But (the Sutter legacy) is a part of his life so when we talk about things like the media, he understands the scrutiny. Look no further than uncle Darryl (the GM of the Calgary Flames) and with Brent just resigning (as the head coach of the New Jersey Devils). I think there's an under- standing, but there wasn't any kind of expectation because of that name. When you follow his career and when we did the research and follow-up on him, you know he's a Sutter just in terms of the work ethic and the commitment."

Sutter is making the transition to coaching after an eight-year pro career that took him to 11 cities and seven different countries. He and his wife Autumn, who've been married just over a year, are looking to settle down closer to home and perhaps start a family.

In taking the Pats' job, Sutter insisted he's not simply following the family path. That said, his father and uncles have been a "great influence" on him both personally and professionally — his father, most of all.

"You can learn a lot from the things they do well, but more than anything you also learn from their weaknesses," added Sutter. "Being the son of a coach, you see the worst times and you see the best times. I think I remember every time my dad was fired or when my uncles were fired. It's one of the toughest things to see because you see how much they really care and how much work they put into it.

"Even though I don't have any coaching experience, I'm fully aware of what the job entails. I know being an assistant coach isn't a glamorous job. I'm not expecting any headlines. All I really want to do is have the respect of the players in the dressing room and the coaching staff. If you can be honest with yourself in what you're doing and other people can do the same, you have a real fast track as far as improving. That has always been something my dad has stressed to me."

“My wife and I are excited to call Regina home, even though this is a big change in our lives, we can’t wait embrace the community.” Shaun Sutter continues, “This is an amazing opportunity to join the oldest franchise in junior hockey and be a part of such a rich history. To work with and learn from Curtis (Hunt) and Brent (Parker) as well as surrounding myself with such good people is something I just couldn’t pass up.”