
All-Star Lutes Joins Cutthroats for Opening Season
July 11, 2012 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Denver Cutthroats News Release
DENVER, CO - The Denver Cutthroats announced today they have signed veteran forward Brett Lutes to their roster for the upcoming 2012-13 Central Hockey League season.
Lutes (LOOTS) was voted to the CHL All-Star Game last season and was a seventh-round draft pick of the St. Louis Blues in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft. Last year, the Riverview, New Brunswick native tallied 20 goals and a career-high 42 assists for the CHL's Dayton Gems. He finished as the Gems' second-leading scorer with 62 points.
"Brett is a veteran scorer who also brings some key playmaking ability to our roster," said Cutthroats Head Coach Derek Armstrong. "He has played in this league for the past three years and is familiar with the competition we'll be facing on a nightly basis. He will help us succeed on the ice."
The upcoming season will be Lutes' fourth in the CHL and ninth overall. In his pro career, the 6-foot-1, 195-pound forward has recorded 417 points in 480 games on 162 goals and 255 assists. During his past three seasons in the CHL, the 30-year-old has averaged nearly a point-per-game, amassing 159 points in 168 appearances with the Gems and Colorado Eagles.
Lutes began his pro career with the ECHL's Bakersfield Condors in 2004-05. He spent the next season with the Port Huron Flags of the United Hockey League before returning to Bakersfield in 2006-07 - where he enjoyed his best season statistically scoring 34 goals and 70 points. Lutes played a third season with the Condors in 2007-08, registering 62 points (22 goals, 40 assists) in 68 games, then traveled to Germany for a season before returning to begin the CHL leg of his career.
Prior to turning pro, Lutes spent a year at St. Thomas University, scoring eight goals and adding 13 assists in 28 games. He's a product of Canada's Quebec Major Junior Hockey League where he racked up 231 points in 210 games for the Montreal Rocket from 1999-2003.
Lutes is the fourth player signed to the Cutthroats inaugural season roster joining forward Luke Fulghum, and defensemen Aaron MacKenzie and Steve Makway.
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Central Hockey League Stories from July 11, 2012
- Thunder Re-Sign Flath, Add Skilled Forward Trimm - Wichita Thunder
- Blaze Sign Goalie for Upcoming Season - Bloomington Blaze
- Cramer Coming Back to Oilers After Stellar Rookie Season - Tulsa Oilers
- All-Star Lutes Joins Cutthroats for Opening Season - Denver Cutthroats
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
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