It’s been nearly two years since Brandon Sutter played in the National Hockey League.
Despite that, the former Red Deer Rebel isn’t giving up on his dream to return to professional hockey.
The 34-year-old forward last played in 2021 but after the COVID-19 virus spread through the Vancouver Canucks dressing room in March of that year, Sutter got extremely ill. He made a return later that spring but after eight games he had to take a step back.
Following that he began to experience symptoms of long-haul COVID-19 and since he was still under contract with the Canucks last season he, his wife, and kids stayed put in British Columbia but returned home to Sylvan Lake last year.
Since January, Sutter has skated with the Red Deer Rebels during practices in an attempt to make a comeback. He decided to return to the game he loves after experiencing improvements in his health.
“I was finally kind of feeling like working out, training, and skating again,” he said.
“It just feels good to get back to doing some normal activity and I’m not too sure what will come of it. If I get back to playing next year I don’t really know I’ll have to see how my health does… I just want to stay sharp on the ice in the event I have the chance to play again.”
The experience in itself has been fun for Sutter, who has shared his knowledge and wisdom with the Rebels’ players. He’s even shown them a few tips and tricks to implement into their own game.
“I think about when I was in junior if an NHL player came out with us I would think that’s pretty cool… You just see things in the game and habits that players have. Things that took me years to learn that I can maybe teach them in a few minutes of talking to them,” he said.
“There are habits you have to learn if you want to be an NHL player and it’s hard to learn those in junior, just the way the game is but I just try to have some fun with the kids. I think they kind of like it.”
With the few months he’s spent with them he’s been surprised how much the skills of these players have advanced in the WHL since he last played in the 2007-08 season in Red Deer.
Sutter played 14 seasons in the NHL, seven of them in Vancouver, but he explained the way his career ended in the pros to this point is not the way he hoped to go out.
“Obviously, I’ve had a lot of good moments and a lot of fun along the way so I’m very thankful and proud of what I’ve done,” he said.
“It leaves a bit of a sour taste in your mouth finishing the way it has but my goal is if my health is back to 100 per cent by September I do want to try even if it’s for one more year.
“As an athlete, you always want the ability to end your career on your own terms but I definitely won’t jeopardize my health any further to do it.”
His recovery from long haul COVID-19 hasn’t been easy.
Once he took a step back from the game Sutter said doctors discovered it was a reaction from his immune system.
He added he had horrible lasting symptoms for over a year and after being diagnosed with the virus two years ago he’s just starting to feel normal again.
“I still have quite a ways to go but it’s just the way your immune system reacts to it. It has nothing to do with the actual virus itself,” Sutter said.
With that came a new perspective on life and Sutter is thankful and hopeful that he came out on the better side. He credits some time spent at a health centre in Calgary as well as regular visits to a naturopath in Red Deer for getting him feeling great again.
“For my wife and kids, it’s been a tough couple of years too because our kids are six, four, and two… There were several months there when I was pretty useless as a dad because I was so tired all the time,” he said.
“Ever since I left home when I was 19 to go play in the NHL I’ve always dreamt or looked forward to the day of living back home.
“It’s finally happening and I’m really enjoying it.”