For the love of the game

Out of 24 games the Innisfail Eagles played last year they lost 23 of them. When Brian Sutter arrived this season the past NHL Jack Adams-winning coach was determined to turn that stat around.

The ex boss of the St. Louis Blues, Boston Bruins, Calgary Flames and Chicago Blackhawks immediately began to assemble a force of formidable ice warriors based on qualities of leadership, character and youth.

"It’s a big difference," said right-winger Graham Telford, who played on the Eagles last season. "We went from averaging 13 players a game to a full roster. The level of play and camaraderie is phenomenal."

Teammates describe Sutter not as coach with a complex playbook and intricate strategies, but rather a mentor who shows up to listen to players and figure out how to push each one to the extent of his abilities.

The end result has been a team that has consistently challenged for first place in the Chinook Senior Men’s Hockey League and a group of guys who have a blast playing a game they have truly fallen for. After 12 games this season the Eagles have won eight while dropping four.

"It just brings you back to why you play hockey," Telford said. "It’s just for the love of the game."

Sutter had his work cut out for him, recruiting players from far and wide and finessing their play into an organized machine.

"We get in trouble with penalties, we get in trouble with guys trying to do too much," said Dan Shermerhorn, one of the team’s captains. "Brian’s trying to keep us on a simple system, and when we buy in we have success."

The oilfield salesman says playing hockey in a "working man’s league" smack in the middle of Alberta is a completely different experience from the pressures inherent in his days on teams like the Idaho Steelheads, Tallahassee Tiger Sharks and the Baton Rouge Kingfish.

"Obviously playing in the minors around the States it’s your job," he said. "You get paid to do it."

Competing in the Senior league with a bunch of guys who literally sweat and bleed with passion on a team coached by one of hockey’s biggest names has been a whole lot of fun, he said.

"You just come and you know he’s going to put a team together that’s going to compete and have a chance to win everything," he said. "It’s just an opportunity to come out and love the game."

Last year Andrew Boute played for the Carstairs Redhawks and the year before for Union College in New York. He says he’s been learning a lot under Sutter’s direction.

"Obviously playing for Sudsy’s definitely an honour," he said. "He’s a genuine guy. He really cares about the team, the game and each individual."

The Eagles wouldn’t have achieved the success they’ve seen so far if it weren’t for Sutter, as far as Boute’s concerned.

"The team is what it is because Sutter came and was able to get these players in Innisfail," he said. "Guys are playing their hearts out for him, but he’s essentially the catalyst that got all the guys here."

Sutter is quick to spread the credit around to the entire coaching staff and says his goal is to elevate the level of every player – and keep them performing at that level.

"Winning’s tough, losing’s easy," he said. "Our job is to get players to expect more from themselves. And when we do our goals are going to keep getting higher and higher, and we’re going to keep getting better and better results."