Flames, city of Calgary offer Sutters plenty of support for son with Down Syndrome

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Throughout his career behind the bench that has spanned four decades, one question has governed Calgary Flames head coach Darryl Sutter and the NHL job opportunities he’s pursued: Which city and organization would provide the best environment for his son, Chris, who has Down Syndrome. 

As the Sutter family’s coaching journey has criss-crossed North America from Chicago to San Jose to Calgary to Los Angeles and, now, back to Calgary, Sutter has prioritized Chris and the support available to him.

“Our deal when he was born was to max him out,” Sutter said of his youngest child.

“It’s no different than a player, to maximize [his potential]…we always said that whatever happens, we’ll do it as three [Darryl, his wife Wanda, and Chris]. Our whole life would be three. We wouldn’t go anywhere unless all three of us could go.”

After a couple of years leading the Blackhawks, Sutter resigned following the lockout-shortened 1994-95 season and the family returned to their farm in Viking, Alberta, because he wanted to spend more time with Wanda and Chris. Other coaching offers came up, but Sutter declined. Then the San Jose Sharks reached out and he returned to coaching in the 1997-98 season, two years after leading the Blackhawks to the Western Conference Final against the Detroit Red Wings.

“It had to be the right situation,” Sutter said.

“California at that time was lights out for Down Syndrome, in terms of facilities and medical care and education.”

Sutter coached the Sharks for parts of six seasons until the Flames called midway through the 2002-03 campaign. He already knew of the first-rate treatment and support facilities for Down Syndrome in Calgary, so he accepted the role behind the bench and later took on