CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — There were many factors that led Jesse Sutton to choose UPEI to continue his hockey career while furthering his education.
The 21-year-old Mount Pearl, N.L., native attended Andrews Hockey Growth Programs on the campus as a kid and later worked there during the summer. His family advisor, Doug Shepherd, was based on the Island when they connected five years ago.
“I kind of found P.E.I. was a lot like home,” Sutton said.
When he was seeking information about the team and campus, Sutton didn’t have far to look.
He played a couple of seasons with Panthers defenceman Andrew Picco with the Quebec Remparts and knew Nathan Yetman from ball hockey in Newfoundland. One of his best buddies, Charlottetown Islanders graduate Jordan Maher, has also committed to UPEI for the fall. UPEI also offered a field of study (kinesiology) Sutton wanted to pursue.
“I just thought it was a really good fit,” he said.
Most teenagers enter the major junior draft without much say on where they end up. When that section of their career comes to an end, they get a chance to control what the future holds.
“Coming from major junior, you want to go somewhere where you're going to develop and hockey is taken seriously. The development aspect was a huge aspect for me obviously because I wanted to go to a place where I am going to get better,” said Sutton.
“Moving on to the next chapter. . . it was important for me to find a place where I was comfortable with and, obviously, that aspect of knowing people just makes it a lot easier.”
UPEI head coach Forbes MacPherson said while previous connections may never be the determining factor for players, it certainly helps.
“Everybody, when they’re being recruited, is trying to find the best situation for them individually but if they can make that happen with buddies or familiar faces, it just increases that level of excitement and comfort.”
Sutton is a six-foot-two, 200-pound forward who describes himself as a playmaker that is good in the faceoff circle and responsible defensively.
“I like to use my speed,” he said. “I’m a big body and I protect the puck well.”
Sutton had a 22-goal season for the Remparts as a 19-year-old. The season ended in the first round of the playoffs when the Islanders broke open a 2-2 game with a six-goal third period in Game 7 of the first round.
Sutton had three goals, including two game-winners, in six games during the series but did not play the final contest. Sutton tore his medial collateral ligament (MCL) in Game 6. He played the rest of the game and took the warmup for Game 7 but was unable to play.
It was that series that sprung Sutton onto the Panthers radar.
“That was a really intense, competitive series between two really good teams,” MacPherson said. “We started to do our due diligence on Jesse then. He’s a guy that became very, very attractive to us very quickly.”
Size, competitive nature, ability to play in all situations, versatility, a strong work ethic and familiarity with P.E.I. were some of the attractions.
“When you put all those things together, it became kind of a no-brainer for us,” MacPherson said.
Sutton is training with Bob Thompson in Newfoundland this summer in preparation for the upcoming Atlantic University Sport (AUS) season. The Panthers went 15-14-1 to finish fourth in the seven-team conference in 2018-19. They lost to UNB in the semifinal.
“I know the AUS is a real strong, tough division,” he said. “It’s all about getting bigger and stronger . . . and being ready for the next level.”
Need to know
A look at UPEI Panthers latest recuit, Jesse Sutton.
Age – 21.
Size, position – Six-foot-two, 200-pound forward.
Hometown – Mount Pearl, N.L.
Before UPEI – Sutton was drafted in the third-round (50th overall) by the Quebec Remparts of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. He played three full seasons with the Remparts before finishing his junior career this season with Chicoutimi and Acadie-Bathurst.
Statistics
Season GP G A Pts.
2014-15 2 0 0 0
2015-16 57 2 8 10
2016-17 52 8 8 16
2017-18 68 22 24 46
2018-19 66 18 28 46
