Brent Sutter fires Rebels coach, steps in

Red Deer Rebels head coach Brent Sutter. (AP Photo)

THE CANADIAN PRESS

RED DEER, Alta. _ Brent Sutter is back behind the bench again.

Sutter, the owner and general manager of the Western Hockey League’s Red Deer Rebels, fired coach Jesse Wallin on Tuesday and will take over on an interim basis, according to the team’s website.

The Rebels were fifth in the WHL’s Central Division at 10-11-1-1.

Sutter, the former coach of the NHL’s New Jersey Devils and Calgary Flames, was a successful junior coach before heading to the NHL.

The 50-year-old form Viking, Alta., coached the Rebels to a Memorial Cup in 2001 and Canada to gold at the 2005 and 2006 world junior hockey championships.

Sutter then compiled a 97-56 record over two seasons with the Devils before joining the Flames.

Calgary went 118-90-38 in three seasons under Sutter. The Flames and Sutter parted company earlier this year.

The Rebels also announced that Jeff Truitt will be associate coach.

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