Red Deer Rebels forward notched 20 goals in second year of major junior hockey

RALEIGH, NC—Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, tonight announced the team’s selection of forward Brandon Sutter with the 11th overall pick in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. Sutter scored 20 goals and earned 37 assists (57 points) in 2006-07, his second full season of major junior hockey with the Red Deer Rebels of the Western Hockey League.

“Brandon is a very smart player and a very good two-way player,” said Rutherford. “He’s tall, he’ll fill in, and he’ll end up being a big man. He should end up being a very good two-way player.”

Sutter, 18, a native of Huntington, N.Y., becomes the ninth member of his family drafted into the NHL, joining his father Brent (1980, 17th overall, NY Islanders), uncles Brian (1976, 20th overall, St. Louis), Darryl (1979, 179th overall, Chicago), Duane (1979, 17th overall, NY Islanders), Rich (1982, 10th overall, Pittsburgh) and Ron (1982, 4th overall, Philadelphia) and cousins Shaun (1998, 102nd overall, Calgary) and Brett (2005, 179th overall, Calgary). Brandon (6’3”, 170 lbs.) will represent Team Canada in the 2007 Canada-Russia Super Series later this summer as the two nations’ top junior-aged players come together for a special international competition. Brandon’s father Brent, who coached Canada to the gold medal at the 2005 and 2006 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championships, will be behind the Canada’s bench for that series.

The final six rounds of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft from Columbus can be viewed via streaming video on NHL.com beginning at 10 a.m. tomorrow morning, June 23. Carolina does not own a second round pick, but will select 72nd, 102nd, 132nd, 162nd and 192nd, holding each of its picks in the third through seventh rounds going into the second day of the draft.