He played junior hockey with the Moose Jaw Monarchs in 1921-22 and the Moose Jaw Canucks in 1923-24 and senior hockey with the Moose Jaw Maple Leafs in 1922-23 and the Moose Jaw Millers in 1924-25 and 1925-26. Sutherland turned pro with the Moose Jaw Maroons of the Prairie Hockey League in 1926-27 and 1927-28. From 1928-29 to 1930-31 he played for the Seattle Seahawks and the Seattle Eskimos of the Pacific Coast Hockey League. The Eskimos sold him to the Boston Bruins in 1931. Sutherland played two games for the Bruins in 1931-32 but spent most of the season with the Boston Cubs.