Chicago Blackhawks Fire Luke Richardson, IceHogs’ Sorensen Named Interim Head Coach
Breaking News
Chicago Blackhawks General Manager Kyle Davidson announced Thursday the team has fired head coach Luke Richardson.
Interim Head Coach Named
Rockford IceHogs head coach Anders Sorensen has been named interim head coach and will assume duties immediately. Mark Eaton, Blackhawks Assistant General Manager overseeing player development, will assume interim head coaching responsibilities in Rockford.
Statement from General Manager Kyle Davidson
“Today I made the difficult decision to move on from Luke as our head coach. We thank him for his efforts and contributions to the organization and our community,” Davidson said. “As we have begun to take steps forward in our rebuilding process, we felt that the results did not match our expectations for a higher level of execution this season and ultimately came to the decision that a change was necessary. We wish Luke and his family all the best moving forward.”
About Anders Sorensen
Sorensen, 49, assumes the interim head coaching role after spending the previous six seasons behind the IceHogs bench.
The native of Södertälje, Sweden originally joined the Blackhawks organization as a development coach in 2013-14, a role he remained in for five seasons until being named an assistant coach with Rockford beginning in 2018-19. Sorensen was promoted to associate coach ahead of the 2021-22 before taking over as interim head coach six games into the season.
He earned a 35-26-5 record as interim head coach and guided the team to its first Calder Cup Playoffs berth for the first time since the 2017-18 season. He has amassed a 117-89-16-7 record in 229 career AHL games serving as head coach, all with Rockford, while the IceHogs have reached the playoffs in each of his three seasons serving as their boss on the bench.
About Sorensen’s Coaching Career
Prior to joining the Blackhawks organization, Sorensen spent three seasons serving as assistant coach for Södertälje SK of HockeyAllsvenskan from 2011-13 before taking over as interim head coach in October 2013.
Next Game
The Blackhawks take on the Winnipeg Jets Saturday at the United Center with puck drop set for 3 p.m. CT.
Conclusion
The Blackhawks are looking to turn the page and start a new chapter under interim head coach Anders Sorensen. With a strong track record in the AHL, Sorensen brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the bench. The team will look to bounce back from a disappointing season and make a push for the playoffs under his guidance.
FAQs
Q: Why was Luke Richardson fired?
A: The team felt that the results did not match their expectations for a higher level of execution this season and ultimately came to the decision that a change was necessary.
Q: Who will be the interim head coach of the Rockford IceHogs?
A: Mark Eaton, Blackhawks Assistant General Manager overseeing player development, will assume interim head coaching responsibilities in Rockford.
Q: What is Anders Sorensen’s coaching record?
A: Sorensen has a 117-89-16-7 record in 229 career AHL games serving as head coach, all with Rockford.
