The Bentley Generals are going in a new direction.
General manager Jeff McInnis announced the Chinook Hockey League team and head coach Brian Sutter have parted ways.
“That’s hockey,” said McInnis. “It’s never easy to make changes, but it happens and Brian was a complete pro about it.”
Sutter, who directed the Generals along with assistants Brian Stephenson and Andy Nowicki, didn’t want to make a big deal out of it, saying “it was a mutual decision.
“We weren’t going to come back last year, but decided to,” he said. “And it’s no big thing moving on. There’s a 101 things I can do.”
Sutter first joined the Generals in 2006, leading them to the Allan Cup, losing in the semifinal. The former NHL coach of the year coached the Western Hockey League’s Red Deer Rebels during the 2007-08 season before returning to the Generals for the next four years, winning the Allan Cup in 2009.
“It was quite a challenge and we feel we helped the team grow to national prominence,” he added,
“He certainly did,” added McInnis. “We owe him a ton of gratitude. When he joined us in 2006 he brought us from playing at 80 per cent to 100 per cent. He gave us instant credibility.”
The change came after a tough season for the Generals as they finished behind the Lloydminster Border Kings during the regular season, but came back to defeat them in the league final. However, the Generals scoring woes did them in in the Allan Cup playdowns, losing to Horse Lake, who eventually lost to Stony Plain.
“Sometimes there has to be a change and a new voice in the room,” added McInnis, who announced former General Brandin Cote will take over as head coach.
“We’re blessed to have Brandin available,” said McInnis. “He wants to coach and knows the team and the league and what it takes to coach at this level. It’s a special brand of hockey where family and work come first and hockey is third.”
Cote, who played for the Generals in the 2010-11 season, was an assistant coach with the RDC Queens hockey team last season and also worked with Hockey Alberta and coached with the Central team at the Alberta Cup.
Cote will finish his education degree at RDC in 2013.
“He has a passion for the sport and wants to get into coaching, so we’re excited to have him,” added McInnis. “I know he wants to see how high he can go as a coach, so who knows how long we’ll have him . . . we can only see.”
The 31-year-old Cote, a native of Swift Current, hasn’t been in coaching long, but has a solid background.
He played parts of six seasons with Spokane of the WHL, some under the direction of Detroit Red Wings head coach and former RDC King boss Mike Babcock.
He also played in the American Hockey League with Norfolk and three years in Europe.
This is a special year for the Generals who will host the Allan Cup.
“It’s year 14 for us and we couldn’t be more excited,” continued McInnis. “We’ve been to six Allan Cups, but never hosted. This year we won’t have to beat the host team. That’s always tough.”
The Generals lost to the host team in the final in both 2008 and 2010.
“It’s still a year away, but we’ve been working on it for over a year and there’s still a lot to do, but we’re blessed to have a lot of people helping out,” concluded McInnis.
drode@www.reddeeradvocate.com