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Learning English with CBC

Edmonton

Monthly feature story:

The Sutter family of

Alberta

November 2012 Lesson plans created by Justine Light

http://www.cbc.ca/edmonton/learning‐english/ www.alberta.ca


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Feature Story Objectives

The Sutter family of Alberta

CLB competency outcomes Listening: Reading: Speaking: Writing:

L: Identify factual details and some implied meanings in extended narration R: Demonstrate comprehension of a two page moderately complex tip sheet on a familiar topic R: Develop skimming and scanning skills S: (Global Descriptor) Pronunciation errors rarely impede communication. W: Create a one paragraph text to encourage healthy living

Language skills Vocabulary: Use vocabulary words in context

Grammar: Understand possessive pronouns

Pronunciation: Identifying correct pronunciation patterns for plural word endings

Language Activities (in order of appearance in materials)

Answering comprehension questions and discussion questions about a short background text on the Sutter family Completing pre‐listening activities to build vocabulary and prepare learners for audio Listening to the audio to identify facts and details Listening to audio to develop listening transfer skills Identifying thought groups in speech Identifying patterns for pronunciation in plural word endings Completing pre‐ reading vocabulary activity Skimming and scanning a reading text Identifying details & inferred meaning in a reading activity Develop suasion writing skills by encouraging classmates to become physically active


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Introduction

Background Reading:

Before you read, think about the following question.

Do you believe that professional athletes are successful because of natural

talent that is based more on their genes, or is that talent developed by parents

and their upbringing?

Salute to the Sutters

The Sutters are hockey in Alberta. No other family has had six NHL playing

brothers. They all played the game the same way: hard‐nosed, forechecking,

muckers and grinders1. Collectively the Sutter brothers have put in more than five

thousand games and captured six Stanley Cups. And that success started with the

down home work ethic of the family dairy farm. The roots of this family tree are

firmly planted in Viking, Alta., the town of a thousand people an hour and a half

southeast of Edmonton.

We spent some time with the matriarch of the Sutter Clan, Grace, on the family

farm near Viking. She spoke of the secret to the Sutter success — hard work.

Food for thought

In your home country, is there a family of athletes similar to the Sutter family?

http://www.cbc.ca/edmonton/features/sutters/

1 grinders = a player who is successful because of hard work rather than exceptional skill or talent


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The Audio

In this audio, you will hear CBC journalist Adrienne Lamb visiting rural town of Viking, Alberta and speaking to the mother of a large family of famous brothers.

CBC file photo

Before you listen:

Have you ever been to a hockey game in Alberta? Have you watched the game on TV?

SPEAKER TITLE: THE SUTTER FAMILY OF ALBERTA

Rick Harp The Sutters are hockey in Alberta. The Viking Alberta family spawned 6 NHL players, not to mention coaches, scouts, and general managers. And the woman who raised them all, family matriarch Grace Sutter, she shares her secrets for creating a hockey dynasty with the CBC’s Adrianne Lamb.

Adrienne Lamb

Grace Sutter pulls down on a heavy, steel chain. It opens the door to a big red barn. She wants to show me her riding lawn mower.


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Vocabulary

The words below are from the audio. The definitions are next to the words. Read the definitions then complete the sentences on the next page.

WORD DEFINITION

1. spawned (verb) To produce young in large numbers

2. matriarch (noun) A woman who is the head of her family or group

3. dynasty (noun) A series of leaders who are from the same family

4. run a tight ship

(idiom)

To control a business or family group firmly

5. twinkle (verb) To shine with light

6. tending (verb) To take care of something

7. patch (noun) an area that is different from what is around it

8. work ethic (noun) A belief that hard work is a good thing

9. vouch for (verb) to say that you know from experience that something is

true

10. (Customer)

appreciation (noun)

A business program to show customers that you value

them and encourage loyalty

11. encased (adjective) To cover or surround something completely

12. donated (verb) To give money or goods to someone or an organization for

free

13. touring (verb) to travel around somewhere looking at various points along

the way

14. clan (noun) A large group of people often from the same family


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Use the vocabulary words (# 1 – 14 ) above to complete the sentences.

(Answers can be found in the appendix.)

1. My teenagers seem to have no ______________________ and spend the

whole day watching TV.

2. The first Tuesday of each month is customer ______________________

day at the local supermarket. You can save 10% on your groceries.

3. We went on vacation in Nova Scotia and spent two weeks

______________________ in our camper van.

4. I have ______________________ two bags of old clothes to the thrift store.

5. My grandmother is the ______________________ of our family and we all

love spending time with her.

6. We have a vegetable ______________________ in our backyard with

carrots, onions and potatoes in it.

7. I can ______________________ that girl; she was my children’s babysitter

for two years and she is very reliable..

8. I have been ____________________ my vegetables very carefully this year

to be sure I get a good harvest.

9. I love sitting by the campfire and looking at the stars

______________________ in the night sky.

10. Our teacher ______________________ so she expects us to be organized

with our assignments, too.

11. My sister keeps her medals from doing gymnastics

______________________ in a glass case.

12. There is a large ______________________ of people from our hometown

in Scotland who immigrated to Canada over a hundred years ago.

13. My neighbor’s cat has ______________________ hundreds of kittens in

our neighborhood over the years..

14. With six brothers who have played professional hockey, the Sutter family is

a true sporting______________________


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Listening for meaning

Read and answer the following questions.

1. How many sons does Grace Sutter have?

2. Where does Grace live?

3. What kind of farm did her family run?

4. Explain how the Sutter children learned to develop a positive work ethic?

5. Why did Grace encourage her boys to play hockey?

6. What job did Grace have for twenty years?

7. What decorates Grace’s basement?

8. What challenges has Grace Sutter faced over the years?

9. How many people are now part of the Sutter clan?


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Listening strategies – Using abbreviations when note‐taking

The goal of the listening strategies section of the monthly feature lesson is to help you to improve your listening skills for all listening situations– not just this audio.

Taking notes from a lecture or while listening can help you to identify and remember the main points and ideas. It is impossible to write down everything you hear – you can only record the main ideas. Sometimes when you review your notes you might find they are just a jumble of words and points. Using abbreviations can help you to speed up the rate of note taking that you can achieve. It is important to develop a systematic approach to abbreviations so that you are able to understand the notes a few weeks or months after the day of the lecture.

Here are some suggestions from this story:

Word Possible abbreviation

Grace Sutter/ Sutter family GS/SF

Alberta AB

Hockey H

Family FAM

Viking V

Children CHLDN

grandchildren GCHLDN


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Standard abbreviations for common words

word Possible abbreviation

with w/

because . .

.

therefore .

. .

is =

and &

more +

less ‐

decrease

increase

number #

money $$

Practice writing abbreviations using these sentences from the audio – rewrite

them in an abbreviated form. (Answers can be found in the appendix).

1. The Viking Alberta family spawned 6 NHL players. __________________________________________________________

___________

2. And those years, you kept them busy, because as long as they were busy then they weren’t getting into trouble. _____________________________________________________________________

3. I thought that when you were done raising your children you didn’t worry anymore, but now there’s grandchildren and there’s great grandchildren. __________________________________________________________

___________


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Now listen to the audio again. Take notes using abbreviations where possible.

Building Speaking Skills

Pronunciation: plural endings

The plural endings of words sound different depending on which sound comes at the end of the word. Look at the chart below to see the different pronunciations of plural endings.

/s/ sound /z/ sound /iz/ sound

tracks

asks

tents

tops

baths

cliffs

hands

suns

clams

wells

files

labs

kings

fillers

Sutters

kisses*

wishes

judges

entices

beaches

*Notice that with the /iz/ pronunciation, there is always an “e” before the “s” in the spelling.


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Pronunciation: plural endings. (Cont’d)

The following words are all spoken in the podcast. Try to place the words in the

correct category on the chart. Use the examples to help you. The first one is done

for you.

1. Sutters

2. players

3. coaches

4. scouts

5. managers

6. secrets

7. boys

8. drugs

9. stories

10. groceries

11. trophies

12. banners

13. pictures

14. grandsons

15. grandkids


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Grammar Activity – Possessive Pronouns English does not have a grammatical gender system. In English the gender of the possessive determiner agrees with the gender of the possessor rather than the gender (if it exists) of the noun that is possessed.

For example: The student lost her backpack and could not hand in her assignment.

In this sentence, the student who lost the bag is clearly female, as indicated by the possessive determiner (her) chosen. The fact that English does not have a grammatical gender system means that neither the backpack nor the assignment can be assigned ‘she’ as a pronoun. These items would be referred to as ‘it’.

There are some examples of this in the audio:

…when her seven sons were growing up…

…each son with his own section.

…through the basement of her modest bungalow.

It is the gender and number of the possessor that determine the pronoun.

Here are some other interesting examples from the audio:

the boys were helping their dad

that’s where they got their work ethic from.

a way to keep her boys on the right path

She’s a hardworking, Christian lady that loves her community, loves her family first.

Can you explain the possessive pronoun rule here to a classmate?

(Suggested responses are in the appendix.)


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Reading Activity

Pre‐reading vocabulary

The following vocabulary activity will help you to understand the reading below.

Match each word to its correct definition.

The first one is done for you. (Answers can be found in the appendix.)

1. role B A. related to something where you meet and spend time with other people

2. moderate B. to be one important part of a process or operation

3. vigourous C. happening too soon or before planned

4. target D. strong and energetic rate of something

5. routine E. a regular part of everyday life

6. social F. average or medium rate of something

7. limit G. to direct an activity towards a certain thing

8. premature H. to stop or prevent an increase in something

9. self esteem I. strengthening the heart and lungs by making them work hard for several minutes or more

10. aerobic J. confidence in your own ability and skills


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Reading text – Tips to get active


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Excerpt from http://asrpwf.ca/media/259643/pag_guidelines_adults_en_alberta.pdfReading for meaning


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Reading Strategies – Skimming and Scanning

The goal of the reading strategies section of the monthly feature lesson is to help you to become a

better reader of all reading texts – not just this text. Give yourself a maximum of three minutes to

read the Tips to get active sheet – you will have to skim over the words quickly and move on even

when you don't quite understand. Look for the main ideas, focus on topic sentences and

concentrate on the content key words.

Try to answer these true‐false questions from your speed‐reading of the text.


True False

Moderately intensive activity should make

you feel different physically.

You are working at a moderate level if you

are not able to talk.

The minimum recommended period of

physical activity is 15 minutes.

Exercise can help prevent serious diseases.

You only need to do one type of activity to

be healthy.

Physical activity can help your mental

health and physical health.

These guidelines may be appropriate for

pregnant women.


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Reading for meaning


Please circle the best answer for questions 1 and 2.

1. Which of the following is NOT true when planning to exercise?

a. A routine helps with becoming physically active.

b. Making your workouts social helps with becoming physically active.

c. As little as five minutes of physical activity can help to become physically active.

d. Limiting time spent on sedentary activities can help in developing a physically active

lifestyle.

2. Which statement about physical activity most accurately reflects the reading?

a. Physical activity is the single most important part of a healthy lifestyle.

b. Physical activity is an important part of a healthy lifestyle.

c. Physical activity is the only consideration for a healthy lifestyle.

d. Physical activity is important for a healthy lifestyle but is not important for everyone.

Answer the questions below.

3. Give three examples of diseases that can be prevented by having an active lifestyle.

4. Explain the difference between the two different types of strengthening activities.

5. Explain the benefits of being social when doing physical activities.

Food for thought

6.Why do you think that with all the evidence about the benefits of exercise, many people still are

not active enough?


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Writing Activity

You are a volunteer at the local YMCA. Lately, the manager has been talking to you about the need

to encourage more English language learners and immigrants to get active. Using the information

in the text above write a one‐paragraph text using plain English to explain the benefits of a healthy

lifestyle to your classmates. A sample paragraph can be found in the appendix.

The benefits of healthy lifestyle

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


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Links

Links to the community

Learn more about opportunities to become physically fit from the Edmonton area YMCA:

http://www.edmonton.ymca.ca/

Interested in the National Hockey League? You can find out more about the Edmonton Oilers

here:

http://oilers.nhl.com/

You can see an update feature about the Sutter family at this CBC feature page:

http://www.cbc.ca/edmonton/features/sutters/

Language Learning Links

This is an excellent online dictionary for English language learners from Merriam Webster:

http://www.learnersdictionary.com/

Check out these examples of persuasive essays to help you write your own: http://eslbee.com/persuasion_essays_models.htm

This is an excellent free resource from the BBC. It is a comprehensive site with a wide variety or resources, news stories, blogs, quizzes, etc. all designed for English language learners. Of course, being from the BBC, these materials use British English: http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/


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Appendix – Answer Key

Listening for meaning

1. How many sons does Grace Sutter have? Seven

2. Where does Grace live? Viking Alberta – Central Alberta

3. What kind of farm did her family run? A dairy farm

4. Explain how the Sutter children learned to develop a positive work ethic? By working hard on a tight schedule on the dairy farm

5. Why did Grace encourage her boys to play hockey? To keep them busy and away from trouble, like drugs

6. What job did Grace have for twenty years? She worked bagging groceries in the supermarket

7. What decorates Grace’s basement? Trophies, pictures and other souvenirs from her sons hockey careers

8. What challenges has Grace Sutter faced over the years? Her husband passed away seven years ago and she has fought breast cancer

9. How many people are now part of the Sutter clan? Forty two

Listening strategies – Using abbreviations when note‐taking

1. The Viking Alberta family spawned 6 NHL players.

VK AB fam spawned 6 NHL players.


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2. And those years, you kept them busy, because as long as they were busy then they

weren’t getting into trouble.

& those yrs you kept them busy . . busy = no trouble

.

3. I thought that when you were done raising your children you didn’t worry anymore,

but now there’s grandchildren and there’s great grandchildren.

I thought when you’re done w/ CHLDN no worries – but now = GCHLDN & G‐G‐

CHLDN

Building Speaking Skills

Pronunciation: plural endings.

/s/ sound /z/ sound /iz/ sound

scouts

secrets

scouts

grandkids

Sutters

grandsons

drugs

Players

managers

boys

stories

groceries

trophies

banners

pictures

coaches


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Grammar Activity – Possessive Pronouns the boys were helping their dad

Here the possessor is a group of brothers with one father. The possessive pronoun reflects the plural group by using ‘their’ even though there is only one dad.

that’s where they got their work ethic from.

Here the possessor is plural – the same group of brothers– even though the noun is non‐count and therefore appears singular – it is still possessed by more than one person so ‘their’ is used.

a way to keep her boys on the right path

Here the possessor is the mother – singular and female – the number and gender of the noun that is possessed (boys) does not affect the choice of pronoun.

She’s a hardworking, Christian lady that loves her community, loves her family first.

Here the possessor is the mother – singular and female – the number and gender of the possessed does not affect the choice of pronoun.

Pre‐reading vocabulary

1. role B A. related to something where you meet and spend time with other people

2. moderate F B. to be one important part of a process or operation

3. vigourous D C. happening too soon or before planned

4. target G D. strong and energetic rate of something

5. routine E E. a regular part of everyday life

6. social A F. average or medium rate of something

7. limit H G. direct activity towards a certain thing


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8. premature C H. to stop or prevent an increase in something

9. self esteem J I. strengthening the heart and lungs by making them work hard for several minutes or more

10. aerobic I J. confidence in your own ability and skills

Reading Strategies

True False

Moderately intensive activity should make

you feel different physically.

x

You are working at a moderate level if you

are not able to talk.

x

The minimum recommended period of

physical activity is 15 minutes.

x

Exercise can help prevent serious diseases. x

You only need to do one type of activity to

be healthy.

x

Physical activity can help your mental

health and physical health.

x

These guidelines may be appropriate for

pregnant women.

x

Reading for meaning

1. Which of the following is NOT true when planning to exercise?

a. A routine helps with becoming physically active.

b. Making your workouts social helps with becoming physically active.

c. As little as five minutes of physical activity can help to become physically active.

d. Limiting time spent on sedentary activities can help in developing a physically active

lifestyle.

2.Which statement about physical activity most accurately reflects the reading?


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a. Physical activity is the single most important part of a healthy lifestyle.

b. Physical activity is an important part of a healthy lifestyle.

c. Physical activity is the only consideration for a healthy lifestyle.

d. Physical activity is important for a healthy lifestyle but is not important for everyone.

Answer the questions below.

3. Give three examples of diseases that can be prevented by having an active lifestyle.

Coronary heart disease, stroke, hypertension, colon cancer, breast cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis

4. Explain the difference between strengthening types of activities.

Muscle strengthening builds muscles, ex: push ups and digging in the garden

Bone strengthening pushes and pulls against your bones making them stronger ex: running,

walking, yoga

5. Explain the benefits of being social when doing physical activities.

I think it would motivate you because you are having fun and making friends as well as exercising.

6.Why do you think that with all the evidence about the benefits of exercise, many people still are

not active enough?

Answers may vary – could include too busy, not enough time, children’s activities come first,

two jobs, not enough money.


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Writing activity

The benefits of a healthy lifestyle

Are you suffering from stress, low energy and an overall feeling of poor health? Have you had a hard time getting enough exercise since you came to Canada? If this sounds like your situation, perhaps you need to think about how regular physical activity might help you. Adding any physical activity can benefit your physical health. Did you know that you could prevent disease and decrease the chance of premature death by working out? Not only will you feel better physically but also exercise can improve your stress levels and mental health. Also, if you are feeling fitter you will feel better about yourself and your self-esteem could rise. Finally, if you make your exercise and activity a social event you could also make friends and get to know your community. There are so many potential benefits from physical activity, contact your local YMCA to find out how to make a start.


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SPEAKER TITLE: THE SUTTER FAMILY OF ALBERTA 0:00 Rick Harp The Sutters are hockey in Alberta. The Viking Alberta family spawned 6

NHL players, not to mention coaches, scouts, and general managers. And, the woman who raised them all, family matriarch Grace Sutter. She shares her secrets for creating a hockey dynasty with the CBC’s Adrienne Lamb.

0:24 Adrienne Lamb

Grace Sutter pulls down on a heavy, steel chain. It opens the door to a big, red barn. She wants to show me her riding lawn mower.

0:33 Grace Sutter It’s a fifty‐two inch cut, so it does a heck of a lot more work than a thirty‐eight.

0:39 Adrienne Lamb

It looks brand new.

0:41 Grace Sutter Some people think that it’s not used, I said I clean it off after every use. I use it‐ I have an air compressor and I clean it off and then I run it up and wash it with the hose. Then I bring it back and wipe it down.

0:54 Adrienne Lamb

You still run a pretty tight ship.

0:56 Grace Sutter Well I try to, I try to, I try to. 1:00 Adrienne

Lamb Grace Sutter’s brown eyes twinkle. She’s not very tall, maybe 5’2’’, and she never stands still for long. Now Grace wants to tour me around the rest of the place.

1:11 Grace Sutter The potatoes are starting to come up over there 1:14 Adrienne

Lamb She’s been tending this land most of her life, a patch of rolling green in Central Alberta. And cattle, when her seven sons were growing up, dairy cattle.

1:24 Grace Sutter When you dairy, you’re 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Then there was still a big garden and if the boys were helping their dad in the fields. And that’s I guess that’s where they got their work ethic from. They knew what work was.

1:40 Adrienne Lamb

And that’s what they put on the ice. Grinders who got it done.

1:45 Commentator

There’s Wayne Sutter, hitting Brett Sutter…

1:53 Adrienne Lamb

Brian, Daryl, Dwayne, Brett, Ron and Rich, all played the same style of hockey. It was about character, and hockey was the outlet, a way to keep her boys on the right path.


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2:05 Grace Sutter And those years, you kept them busy, because as long as they were busy then they weren’t getting into trouble. This is when the drugs started coming to Viking, I remember lining up all 7 of them in the front room at the old house, and saying you guys, you are not! You’re going to be kept busy so you’re not fooling around with all that stuff. I think they could vouch for that, they’d probably tell you yeah oh mother did that to us!

2:37 Adrienne Lamb

Today, a free barbecue on the main drag of Viking. Its customer appreciation day at the local auto body shop, and Sutter stories are always the talk of this town.

2:50 Customer #1 They all grew up as good kids, and they’re Vikings, they’ve got heart and soul. That’s what makes them good people.

2:56 Customer # 2 The Sutters never lost a hockey game in their life. They simply ran out of time once in a while a while. If it went far enough, they were going to win.

3:04 Customer #3 Do you know, this is the most interesting town of all, because I don’t think anywhere else the mother of the NHL‐ers would be bagging your groceries.

3:14 Adrienne Lamb

That’s right. For more than 20 years, Grace also worked at the local IGA. Mayor Marlene Grandenetti walks through the arena in Viking.

3:28 Marlene Grandenetti

Okay, this is the wall of fame here.

3:31 Adrienne Lamb

She points to 6 jerseys, encased in glass.


Sutter, Sutter, Sutter, Sutter, Sutter, Sutter, and they’ve all been donated.

3:39 Adrienne Lamb

Grace still comes here. She drops the puck for games and talks about her boys.


Very proud mother, and so she should be. She’s a hardworking, Christian lady that loves her community, loves her family first.

3:55 Grace Sutter Mckenzie, Daryl’s little granddaughter loves to come down here

4:06 Adrienne Lamb

Back on the Sutter Farm, Grace is touring me through the basement of her modest bungalow. It’s like the hockey hall of fame exploded here.

4:08 Grace Sutter Here’s Ronny, Richard, Brent, Dwayne…

4:11 Adrienne Lamb

Pictures, banners, and a wall of trophies, each son with his own section.

4:17 Grace Sutter One boy, another boy, another boy, let me tell you, they’re dust collectors.

Adrienne Lamb

This is also where the TV is.


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4:22 Grace Sutter We don’t go too far from the TV come game nights. On Saturday morning my TV is turned on at 11 o’clock and it doesn’t go off until 11 o’clock nighttime after the West coast games are finished. I guess it’s almost like a disease.

4:44 Adrienne Lamb

But her mood changes when she glances up at another photo on the basement wall, one of the whole family. You see, Grace Sutter has had her share of heartache. Her husband Louis died seven years ago, she herself battled back from breast cancer, and now, instead of worrying about 7 sons, Grace Sutter has a clan of 42

5:07 Grace Sutter I thought that when you were done raising your children you didn’t worry anymore, but now there’s grandchildren, and there’s great grandchildren. I’m a true believer in prayer. Mighty works in the power of prayer.

5:27 Adrienne Lamb

Now she prays for her son Daryl, and his LA Kings, and for her son Brent, who many here think should be the next coach of the Edmonton Oilers. And her grandsons, Brett, Brandon and Brody, the next generation now playing in the NHL. And, the rest of the coaches, general managers, and scouts who bear the Sutter family name.

5:49 Grace Sutter And then, there’s a whole collection here of pictures of the teams that the boys played for.

5:54 Adrienne Lamb

In Viking Alberta, I’m Adrienne Lamb.

5:57 Grace Sutter When the grandkids come, they figure sometimes I go down and I say what are you kids doing? We’re playing for some team or whatever. I said put them back please, so that’s why they’re probably mixed up and I haven’t had time to go through them.

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