Pens Fire Helinka

[_NITEBREED_]

FULL STORY HERE

THIS JUST CAME IN :

Pens fire Hlinka, Kehoe takes over
(Oct 15) The Pittsburgh Penguins, off to a league-worst 0-4-0 start, today relieved Ivan Hlinka of his head coaching duties, it was announced by general manager Craig Patrick. Long-time Penguins assistant coach Rick Kehoe will take over as the 20th head coach in team history, and the 17th different man to lead the Penguins bench.

“Rick Kehoe has worked under some of the best coaches in the NHL in Bob Johnson, Scotty Bowman, Herb Brooks and Ed Johnston, and can draw on his vast experience with these very successful coaches,� Patrick said in announcing the change.

Hlinka joined the Penguins as an associate head coach on Feb. 20, 2000, serving under then-head coach Herb Brooks. He was named head coach on June 21, 2000, and became just the second European to guide an NHL team. He led the Pens to a 42-28-9-3 mark last season for 98 points, and a berth in the Eastern Conference Finals.

“Ivan has an excellent hockey mind,� Patrick said. “We’d like to keep him in the organization in another capacity.�

[ken_valyi]

Thanks for the heads up on this story. Although this really belongs in the Pens forum.

I already started a thread there