The Sutter family, originally from Viking, Alberta, Canada, is one of the most famous families in the National Hockey League (NHL). Six brothers: Brent, Brian, Darryl, Duane, Rich and Ron, reached the NHL in the 1970s and 80s. Four brothers, Brian, Duane, Darryl and Brent, have gone on to become coaches and general managers as well. In addition, of the six brothers who reached the NHL in the 1970s and 1980s, all but Rich have been employed at one time or another by the Calgary Flames.
A seventh brother named Gary is said by his brothers to have been the best hockey player of all seven boys. Rather than making his living as a hockey player, Gary stayed home to work on the family farm.
Collectively, the Sutter brothers played nearly 5000 games and won the Stanley Cup six times as players (and a seventh Cup as head coach). The second generation of Sutters have reached the NHL, as Brandon Sutter and cousin Brett Sutter were members of the Carolina Hurricanes organization for a few seasons.
The first generation of Sutters had at least one brother playing in the NHL for 24 seaons - from 1976–77 to 2000–01 (with all six playing from 1982–83 to 1986–87).
Grace Sutter, the boys' mother still resides in the Viking area and is active in church and her family activities. The brothers' father, Louis John Sutter, died on February 10, 2005, at the age of 73, following a lengthy illness.