For Immediate Release
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Calgary, AB – General Manager Darryl Sutter announced today Brent Sutter has been named as the head coach of the Calgary Flames. Additionally, Ryan McGill, Dave Lowry and Jamie McLennan have been named as assistant coaches.
Brent joins the Calgary Flames after two seasons as the bench boss of the New Jersey Devils compiling a 97-56-11 (.625) record during the regular season, and an Atlantic Division title in 2008-09. Prior to that, Brent spent eight seasons as owner, president, general manager, and head coach of the Red Deer Rebels (WHL). During that time, he led the Rebels to a 314-194-68 (.604) as the team’s head coach. Brent guided the Rebels to a WHL Championship in 2001, and three consecutive WHL Eastern Conference Championships from 2001-03. In 2001, Brent was named as the WHL’s top coach taking home the Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy.
The Red Deer Rebels captured the Memorial Cup Championship in 2001 with Brent as the bench boss. He has represented Canada twice as the head coach guiding the National Junior team to consecutive 6-0-0 marks and gold medals at the 2005 and 2006 IIHF World Junior Championships. As a player, the Viking, Alberta native helped his country win the 1984, 1987, and 1991 Canada Cup Championships. Brent was also a member of Canada’s 1986 Bronze Medal-winning World Championship team.
Brent’s amassed an 18 year NHL playing career with the New York Islanders and Chicago Blackhawks. He recorded 363 goals and 466 assists for 829 points and 1,054 penalty minutes in 1,111 career regular-season games. Brent scored an additional 30 goals and 44 assists for 74 points and 164 penalty minutes in 144 career playoff games.
Along with the Flames Director of Player Personnel and brother Duane, Brent was a member of New York Islanders 1982 and 1983 Stanley Cup Championship teams, and served as captain from 1987 through 1991.
Sutter was traded to Chicago on October 25, 1991 and played seven more seasons, including three years under his brother Darryl. Brent retired on April 18, 1998. He was originally the New York Islanders first choice (17th overall) in the 1980 NHL Entry Draft.
Brent Sutter is the third youngest of seven Sutter brothers, six of whom played in the NHL. He and his wife, Connie, have two sons, Merrick and Brandon, and one daughter, Brooke. Brandon currently plays for the Carolina Hurricanes, and was their first choice (11th overall) in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.
Ryan McGill, a native of Sherwood Park, Alberta, joins the Calgary Flames as an assistant coach after four seasons as the head coach for the Flames AHL primary affiliate team in Quad City and Omaha. Prior to that, McGill was the head coach of the Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL) for three seasons, winning the Atlantic Division and earning a berth in the Eastern Conference Final in 2004. As head coach of the Kootenay Ice (WHL) for four and a half season, McGill lead the team to capture the 2002 Memorial Cup and WHL Championships in both 2000 and 2002. Originally a 2nd round pick of the Chicago Blackhawks in the 1987 NHL Draft, McGill has played in 151 NHL games split between Chicago, Philadelphia and Edmonton.
Dave Lowry rejoins Calgary after finishing his playing career with the Flames in 2004. Most recently, Lowry was the head coach of the Calgary Hitmen (WHL) during the 2008-09 season, and guided the Hitmen to the best record in the WHL (59-9-3-1) and a berth in the 2009 WHL Championship as the Eastern Conference champions. Lowry was an associate coach with the Hitmen in 2007-08 and an assistant coach from 2005-07, making it to the Eastern Conference final in both 2007 and 2008. Lowry had an NHL playing career that spanned nineteen years and amassed over 1,000 NHL games.
Jamie McLennan will move over to the coaching staff as an assistant coach after serving as a pro scout/player development with the organization during the 2008-09 season. During his playing career, McLennan had two separate stints with the Calgary Flames between the pipes (2002-04, and 2006-07). McLennan spent 11 seasons in the NHL tending net for the New York Islanders, St. Louis Blues, Minnesota Wild, New York Rangers, Florida Panthers, and the Calgary Flames. He was the recipient of the 1998 Bill Masterton Award for perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.
