Post by Jazz on Jul 7, 2004 2:03:58 GMT -5
Quenneville to coach Colorado[/u][/color]
TSN.ca Staff with files
7/6/2004
source: TSN.CA
TSN has learned that the Colorado Avalanche will name Joel Quenneville as their new head coach, replacing Tony Granato.
Granato, who coached the Avalanche since 2002, will revert to his former position as assistant coach, team spokesman Hayne Ellis said early Wednesday.
Avalanche general manager Pierre Lacroix scheduled a news conference for Wednesday afternoon to announce the changes.
This will mark Quenneville's second stint with the Avalanche organization. He was hired as Marc Crawford's assistant in the 1995-96 season and played a large role in the club's first ever Stanley Cup victory.
Considered one of the most respected coaches in the League, Quenneville was fired by the St. Louis Blues in February after serving as the teams head coach since 1997. He guided the Blues to a franchise record 114 points during the 1999-2000 season and was the recipient of the Jack Adams award as coach of the year.
Under Quenneville, the Blues won 40 or more games five of the six full seasons he was in charge, but the Blues couldn't translate regular season success into the post-season. His .500 record in the playoffs (34-34) includes only one trip to the Western Conference final since taking over midway through the 1996-97 season.
The lowest scoring team in this year's post-season, the Blues lost in the first round to the San Jose Sharks. It was the second straight first round elimination for the club.
In May, Avalanche general manager Pierre Lacroix said he was disappointed with the way the 2003-04 season ended but that coach Granato would not pay the price for the team's playoff failure.
"I'm telling you Tony Granato will be there (as head coach) and should be there a long time, with the way he has worked this year and last year," Lacroix told the Denver Post.
"It's never crossed our mind that any of our coaches, including Tony, haven't done a great job ... and we're very pleased about what he delivered to this organization. If someone wants to put the blame on the coach, that is not the route we're going to take."
The Avalanche finished the 2003-04 season second in the Northwest Division, one point behind the Vancouver Canucks, and fourth overall in the Western Conference. Colorado defeated Dallas in the opening round of the playoffs before losing to San Jose in the second.
TSN.ca Staff with files
7/6/2004
source: TSN.CA
TSN has learned that the Colorado Avalanche will name Joel Quenneville as their new head coach, replacing Tony Granato.
Granato, who coached the Avalanche since 2002, will revert to his former position as assistant coach, team spokesman Hayne Ellis said early Wednesday.
Avalanche general manager Pierre Lacroix scheduled a news conference for Wednesday afternoon to announce the changes.
This will mark Quenneville's second stint with the Avalanche organization. He was hired as Marc Crawford's assistant in the 1995-96 season and played a large role in the club's first ever Stanley Cup victory.
Considered one of the most respected coaches in the League, Quenneville was fired by the St. Louis Blues in February after serving as the teams head coach since 1997. He guided the Blues to a franchise record 114 points during the 1999-2000 season and was the recipient of the Jack Adams award as coach of the year.
Under Quenneville, the Blues won 40 or more games five of the six full seasons he was in charge, but the Blues couldn't translate regular season success into the post-season. His .500 record in the playoffs (34-34) includes only one trip to the Western Conference final since taking over midway through the 1996-97 season.
The lowest scoring team in this year's post-season, the Blues lost in the first round to the San Jose Sharks. It was the second straight first round elimination for the club.
In May, Avalanche general manager Pierre Lacroix said he was disappointed with the way the 2003-04 season ended but that coach Granato would not pay the price for the team's playoff failure.
"I'm telling you Tony Granato will be there (as head coach) and should be there a long time, with the way he has worked this year and last year," Lacroix told the Denver Post.
"It's never crossed our mind that any of our coaches, including Tony, haven't done a great job ... and we're very pleased about what he delivered to this organization. If someone wants to put the blame on the coach, that is not the route we're going to take."
The Avalanche finished the 2003-04 season second in the Northwest Division, one point behind the Vancouver Canucks, and fourth overall in the Western Conference. Colorado defeated Dallas in the opening round of the playoffs before losing to San Jose in the second.
