Sutter quits as N.J. Devils' coach

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NEWARK, N.J., June 9 (UPI) -- Brent Sutter, citing a desire to spend more time at his home and interests in Alberta, Canada, resigned Tuesday as coach of the NHL's New Jersey Devils.

Sutter was the Devils' coach for two seasons, building a 97-56-11 regular-season record. But New Jersey was a combined 4-8 in the playoffs, including a first-round Game 7 loss to Carolina this year after the team had won the Atlantic Division title.

Sutter announced his decision to leave the Devils in a conference call from Red Deer in Alberta.

"It has to do with a lot of things back here in Red Deer," Sutter said. "There are circumstances that have occurred especially over the last year that have made it increasingly more difficult. I have to do the right thing and the right thing was to step back and evaluate everything and go through a process that I had to go through."

Sutter is president of the Red Deer Rebels of the Western Hockey League, a team he bought in 1999.

Even though he coached the Devils for just two seasons, Sutter is third on the team's all-time win list.