89 Champs: Where Are They Now: Gary Suter

Gary Suter spent 18 years on the ice in the NHL, 9 of them with the Calgary Flames. Suter had good offensive talent, collecting 564 points while in Calgary, but could also be a pest. He racked up 892 PIM in his tenure with the Flames.

Calgary traded Suter to the Hartford Whalers in 1994 in a 6 player deal that netted the Flames Zarley Zalapski, James Patrick and Michael Nylander. Suter never had the chance to get to know the Whale as he was immediately sent to the Chicago Blackhawks. Gary Suter played 9 more seasons in the NHL, 5 for Chicago and the final 4 of his career in San Jose. Injuries continued to hamper Suter as they had in Calgary, but he did get to play in the Olympics in 2002 at the age of 38.

Since retiring, Suter has raised his family in Wisconsin. His son Jake played NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey for UMASS Lowell and his nephew Ryan Suter plays for the Minnesota Wild. Gary has also dabbled in coaching, helping with the Madison Capitols and Lakeland Union High School. He also operates a family hockey camp and was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 2011.

by Mark Parkinson