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Hartley Miller's Slap Shots - November 18th Edition

By Hartley Miller

With one of the most successful records in junior hockey history, it would be difficult to question Brent Sutter’s coaching abilities. However, even so called legends can leave themselves open for criticism. 

Sutter’s hockey background is distinguished, and rich with tradition. The Viking, Alberta native was one of six brothers who played in the NHL, lasting 18 seasons, with the Islanders and Blackhawks. He compiled 829 points, and 1054 penalty minutes, in 1111 regular season games. Sutter appeared in 144 playoff games and earned two Stanley Cups, before retiring after the 1997/98 season. 

After a stellar playing career, he landed in the WHL, and is currently the Governor, President, General Manager and Coach of the Red Deer Rebels. In other words, he is “super boss”. 

Prior to this season, Sutter’s coaching record, with the Rebels, was 248-124-50, a .647 winning percentage, the 8th highest in WHL history. The Rebels reached the league final in 2001, 2002 and 2003, winning the 2001 championship. Sutter was also coach of the year in 2001/2002. Last season, his stock was raised, after coaching Canada to the World Junior Hockey Championship, and this season he will try to duplicate that feat. 

Although Sutter’s coaching accomplishments are incredible, some of his strategies have been challenged. With such an impressive resume, how could anyone criticize Sutter’s coaching tactics? Well, the Rebels are riding an 11-game losing streak and have just five wins in 23 games. The youthful Red Deer team played PG (Nov 6th) and blew a 2-0 lead in the 3rd period and lost to the Cougars 3-2 in a shootout. 

It was after the Cougar game that Sutter demonstrated a controversial tactic. In the dressing room, he blew his stack, and launched a profanity laced verbal attack on his team that lasted several minutes, and could be heard loud and clear through the surrounding walls. This was not a normal tongue lashing. In fact, it was a scathing attack that can be argued crossed the line. Every second or third word contained foul language. For ex-PG Cougars, Mike Berube, and Josh Bray, who were acquired in the Jared Walker trade earlier that weekend, it was their first exposure to a Sutter tirade. This young Rebels team played competitively, picked up a point, lost only in a gimmick shootout, yet they were humiliated to a ridiculous extent by their coach. Since this verbal diarrhea in PG, Red Deer lost three more games. 

Coaching by fear is generally accepted, and nothing new. Yes, Sutter is a very intense, a demanding, and a competitive man. For Sutter, it's all business. His results speak for themselves, but you have to wonder for every Dion Phaneuf (Calgary Flames rookie and former Rebel) that prospered under his tutelage, how many other kids that we never hear about have been physiologically and irreversibly damaged from his style? 

Yelling, screaming, trying to motivate a team is all part of the game. That's fair enough, but verbal abuse of teenagers crosses all lines. At what point do we say enough is enough? 

Based on results and credentials Brent Sutter is a heralded, respected and excellent coach. Who am I to disagree with that? But it does appear that his suspect tactics are swept under the carpet, and that's a shame.



From the quote rack:

• Milwaukee Bucks guard Michael Redd, after he signed a $90 million contract: "To me, I'm the same person that I was five years ago when I was making $700,000."



• Dwight Perry of the Seattle Times: "Some 5,700 cubic feet of manure is produced under the big top each week -- by Ringling Brothers, anyway. Figures aren't in yet for the Terrell Owens circus."
• Syndicated Columnist Tom Fitzgerald: Devil Rays first baseman Eduardo Perez became the butt of jokes when he had to miss the season finale after hurting his knee while posing for the team picture. “Sounds to me like he was framed".

• Comedian Frenchie McFarlane, on how ex player Eddie Shack might react after former NHL coach Jacques Demers announced he is illiterate. "What, his mom and dad weren't married?''.

And, how is your week?

--Hartley Miller is the sports director for radio stations 94X and the Wolf@97FM. He also writes for the PG Free Press, and is author of You Don't Say (Andrews-McMeel, 2005).

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