BRIAN SUTTER STEPS DOWN

RED DEER, AB – Brent Sutter, Owner/President of the Red Deer Rebels Hockey Club, announced today that Brian Sutter has resigned from his position as Head Coach.  Sutter leaves after one season behind the bench. 

 Jesse Wallin has been named the new Head Coach of the Rebels.  He was the team’s Associate Coach last year and was an Assistant Coach in the previous two years for Brent Sutter.  Wallin played with the Rebels from 1994-98 and then had a six year professional career.   He becomes the 7^th Head Coach in team history.  

 Brent Sutter – “This past week Brian and I had discussions about his personal commitments and the amount of time that’s needs to be put into the Head Coaching position for this upcoming season and for the future.  At the conclusion of those discussions, it was mutually agreed upon that he would resign as Head Coach for the proper direction of the hockey club.  We both felt that Jesse was the right man to take over the coaching reigns. I’m very excited for Jesse to take over as Head Coach and continue moving forward in the direction that this hockey club needs to go in. Jesse was my Assistant Coach for two years, and was the Associate Coach for Brian this past season; during that period of time he showed me the qualities that are needed to be the Head Coach. ” 

  Jesse Wallin – “I’m extremely excited and honored for the opportunity to become Head Coach of this proud franchise.  I’m looking forward to the upcoming challenge of getting this hockey team back to being an elite club in the Western Hockey League.”

 Dallas Gaume will remain as the Rebels Assistant Coach and Andy Nowicki will remain as the Rebels Goaltending Coach. 

 Brent Sutter – “Dallas has been with the organization since the 2000-01 season and Andy has been a part of the organization at different times throughout the franchise’s history.   The knowledge that all of these men have, and how things are done here both on and off the ice, gives me great confidence and trust that moving forward through this transition period that we’re in we will become once again a very competitive team  in the Western Hockey League.”