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Red Deer Rebels lend helping hand to Vancouver Canucks

The hockey community is a tight-knit one and it was the Red Deer Rebels who played a part in the latest example.
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The hockey community is a tight-knit one and it was the Red Deer Rebels who played a part in the latest example.

With the Vancouver Canucks travelling to the NHL’s bubble in Edmonton late last month, Brent Sutter’s son Brandon was hoping his dad could help get the team some workout equipment for their hotel.

The Rebels owner, GM and head coach obliged, connecting with the Canucks and getting the team whatever they needed.

“They called, just so they didn’t have to carry out from Vancouver,” he said, adding they asked for some stationary bikes and weights.

“Brandon had talked to me about it and one of their fitness trainers asked if it was feasible to happen and I said sure. I would help them out any way I can, if other teams had asked, I probably would have helped them out too.”

Sutter noted with the two Alberta teams in the bubble, the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames, there was no ask from them about the Rebels helping out with gear.

“It’s just what you’ve gotta do. The situation we’re in right now, hockey is– everybody has to help everybody out right now,” he said.

“It’s a family-owned business and Brandon is part of that. He plays for the Canucks and by all means, I was willing to help out any way I can.”

As for the hockey that’s been played so far, the 18-year NHL veteran said he’s been impressed at the ability of the players to gear up for such high-intensity games in a short window.

“I’ve been watching quite a few games. It’s actually been good hockey for just getting started and only having one exhibition game before this started, when there were three or four months were there was nothing,” Sutter added.

“A lot of guys couldn’t even skate. The National Hockey League has done a great job. You look at what’s happening in major league baseball, then you see when the NHL and NBA are doing and it seems to be working.”



Byron Hackett

About the Author: Byron Hackett

Byron has been the sports reporter at the advocate since December of 2016. He likes to spend his time in cold hockey arenas accompanied by luke warm, watered down coffee.
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