(Photo: The Canadian Press)

By Kevin Watson

Eager to contribute

Brandon Sutter confident for healthy, successful season with Vancouver Canucks

Sep 10, 2019 | 1:45 PM

Two major injuries essentially snuffed out Brandon Sutter’s 2018-19 NHL season.

The Sylvan Lake native was limited to four goals and six points in 26 games for the Vancouver Canucks.

Somewhat ironically, Sutter suffered a 3^rd degree shoulder separation occurred in his 13^th game of the season. Then, after eight weeks off, he returned to action, but only lasted another 13 games as he suffered a sports hernia which required surgery in March. So, it’s safe to say 13 is not a lucky number for the former Red Deer Rebels captain who has had surgery on both groins for a sports hernia.

Going through the same injury three seasons earlier didn’t make the latest one much easier, per say, but Sutter at least knew what to expect.

“The first time I was pretty frustrated with it because I didn’t know what I was getting into. It’s a pretty weird injury because it’s kinda where your abs and your obliques and your groin attaches and that all rips apart and you’re starting from scratch,” he noted.

caught

Woman who allegedly ground meat customers out of $60,000 arrested in Ontario

13h ago

TWO-YEAR PROGRAM

RDP launches Network Administration Diploma program to grow credit programming

14h ago

big spinner, big winner

Maskwacis man wins $400,000 at WCLC 'Big Spin' event

14h ago

“This time around it was much better. I did some things that helped me last time and also changed some things up from the first time and with all summer to rehab it’s feeling really good.”

Feeling 100% healthy and ready for training camp, the only Sutter currently playing in the NHL is looking forward to helping the Canucks get back to the post-season for the first time since 2015.

With the addition of free agents Tyler Myers and Jordie Benn on defence and Micheal Ferland up front, Sutter feels the veteran leadership those guys bring will really help their young core group.

“I think that’s really going to help us and really help our young guys, so there’s lots of optimism and we’re pretty excited to get it going just to see what we’re all about.”

One of the pleasant surprises for the Canucks last season was Elias Pettersson, who burst on to the scene to win the Calder Trophy as the rookie of the year. Sutter feels Pettersson, along with Bo Horvat, Brock Boeser and Quinn Hughes, who are all under the age of 24, are the core of the team which bodes well for now and the future.

“We have probably four or five guys under 24 that are probably some of the better players on our team and that’s always a good sign going forward. And for a few of us that are getting up there now, and by up there I mean in hockey now, you’re 30, your pretty much an old guy,” he admitted.

“We know as you get older your chances to win get slimmer and slimmer, so you need the young guys to step up and this year we’re hoping that we can get back in the playoffs.”

Being from a hockey family, he has fond memories of being around an NHL rink with his Dad Brent in Chicago and he would love nothing more than to have his son and daughter get to experience what he did and have those memories.

“I think I was eight when my dad retired, so I remember quite a bit of going to the rink and I thought that was pretty cool. But doing the math on it, if my daughter is going to be eight, that means I have to play until I’m 36 or 37. So I’m just going to try to stay healthy and play as long as I can and hope my kids can enjoy it along the way.”

Brandon is looking forward to playing all 82 games this season, especially a three game set in February as part of a week-long celebration to recognize the Canucks’ 50^th season and to retire the numbers of Daniel and Henrik Sedin.

Sutter can tell the twins apart, but chuckled that it took him awhile.

“I can, I can, but it took me a couple weeks. The first training camp I didn’t want to call them by name, but now it’s easy, but a lot of people still have a tough time.”

No doubt Brandon hopes the number 13 doesn’t play a part this season, especially with this Friday falling on the 13^th.

Vancouver Canucks training camp begins this Thursday Sept 12.