Brent Sutter to coach New Jersey Devils

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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., July 13 (UPI) -- Brent Sutter, one of six brothers to play in the NHL and a successful minor league coach, has been hired to coach the New Jersey Devils.

Sutter resigned as coach and general manager of the western Hockey League's Red Deer Rebels Thursday -- accepting the resignation himself since he owns the team -- and became the Devils coach Friday.

Devils President Lou Lamoriello, who fired Claude Julien with three games left in the 2006-07 regular season and coached the Devils in the playoffs, said New Jersey is "fortunate to have someone with Brent Sutter's character, knowledge, energy, enthusiasm and experience join our organization."

Sutter, 45, coached Red Deer for eight season, building a 314-194-68 record. The Rebels won the WHL title in 2001 under Sutter.

He played 1,111 games over 18 seasons in the NHL with the New York Islanders and Chicago Blackhawks. He scored 363 goals and had 466 assists. He was on two Stanley Cup champion teams.

Sutter is the fourth Sutter brother to become an NHL coach. Brian, Darryl and Duane Sutter have all coached in the league. Rich and Ron Sutter, the first set of twins to play in the league, are the other NHL-playing Sutters.