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Predators’ ECHL Affiliate Signs Ryan Suter’s Brother

No, there is another.

The Cincinnati Cyclones – the Predators’ ECHL affiliate – announced today that they have signed Garrett Suter, AKA Ryan’s kid brother, to his first professional hockey contract. Garrett played college hockey at Wisconsin-Stevens Point.

It should be noted that Garrett is property of Cincinnati and not of the Predators. While the ECHL is a long way from the NHL, there have been players that have made it to the NHL from there. Mark Dekanich played two games in Cincinnati last year and was on the Predators’ roster as recently as last weekend. Last week, former Predator Andrew Brunette became the first ECHL alum to log 1,000 NHL games.

In addition to being affiliated with the Predators, the Cyclones are also affiliated with the Admirals (meaning Admirals players not under NHL contract can be moved back and forth to the Cyclones), the Florida Panthers, the Rochester Americans and the Knoxville Ice Bears. There is a decent chance that if Garrett has a successful run in Cincinnati, he could become the second Suter on the Preds’ payroll…which would certainly help come next summer, when Ryan is a free agent.

The Official Cincinnati Cyclones Press Release:

The 2010 Kelly Cup Champion Cincinnati Cyclones, proud affiliate of the NHL’s Florida Panthers and Nashville Predators, announced today that they have agreed to terms with defenseman Garrett Suter.
 
Suter (pronounced SOO-ter) will embark on his professional career after playing four seasons with University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.  In 100 college games, he posted 70 points (19 goals, 51 assists) and 243 penalty minutes.  This past year, the 23-year-old rear guard was a team captain at UWSP.  In 2009-10, he had a career-high 22 points (6 goals, 16 assists) in 28 games, which led the Pointers in scoring.
 
The Madison, Wisconsin native comes from an extremely hockey-rich bloodline.  His father, Bob, was a member of the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” U.S. Olympic team while his brother, Ryan, has logged nearly 500 NHL games as a defenseman with the Nashville Predators.  Even Suter’s uncle, Gary, enjoyed a lengthy pro career – posting 845 NHL points in 1145 games with the Calgary Flames, Chicago Blackhawks, and San Jose Sharks.  Gary also won the Stanley Cup as a member of the Flames in 1989.
 
Suter will be in uniform tomorrow night when the Cyclones visit the Wheeling Nailers at WesBanco Arena.  The puck drops in Wheeling at 7:35 with pregame coverage beginning on the Cyclones Radio Network at 7:20pm.

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