The Western Canada Professional Hockey Scouts Foundation is mourning the loss of Gary Sutter after the first family of hockey’s eldest son died on Wednesday (Dec. 31) in Viking, Alta. He was a week from his 71st birthday.
“The Foundation joins in hockey fans from around the world in offering deepest condolences to Gary’s family and friends,” said Garth Malarchuk, the WCPHS Foundation’s chairman of the board. “We all know how much the Sutters have meant to hockey and Gary was an integral part of the family.”
Grace and Louis Sutter, who lived on a farm southeast of Edmonton, near Viking, had seven sons, all born from 1954 to 1963. Six of them would play in the NHL.
Gary, who family members say may have been the best of them all, was the lone defenceman. He also was the only one not to play in the big league, choosing instead to stay home and work on the farm.
Gary is survived by his mother, Grace, and brothers Brian, 69; Darryl, 67; Brent, 63; Duane, 65; and twins, Rich and Ron, 62,
Duane was inducted into the Foundation’s Wall of Honour in 2025; Rich and Ron will be inducted in 2026.
The 2025 induction dinner in Okotoks was billed as A Night With the Sutters and included a couple of Hot Stove sessions. Gary was in the house and seemed especially pleased when the Foundation presented him with a commemorative belt buckle.
Gary has been a member of the Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame since 2017 when his entire family was inducted.
According to the family, a private funeral will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that, if you are so inclined, donations be made to God’s Acre Cemetery, the Viking Minor Hockey Association or the Viking Health Foundation.
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