Blackhawks fire Coach Dennis Savard

CHICAGO, Oct. 16 (UPI) -- The Chicago Blackhawks abruptly fired Coach Denis Savard on Thursday despite the team's first win in the 2008-09 season.

Wednesday's 4-1 win over the Phoenix Coyotes gave the Blackhawks a 1-2-1 record through four games in the new season.

"This was an extremely hard day for this organization and for me personally," Blackhawks General Manager Dale Tallon said on the team's Web site.

Savard's replacement, Joel Quenneville, was named immediately.

Savard, who spent 12 of his 17-year playing career with the Blackhawks, had been their head coach since Nov. 29, 2006.

His overall record was 65-67-15, including 40-34-8 in 2006-07, Chicago's first winning campaign since 2001-02, but Chicago has played just one playoff game in the past 10 NHL seasons.

Quenneville coached the St. Louis Blues from 1996-2004 before he was fired in February of the 2003-04 season. Quenneville also has coached the Colorado Avalanche and has a 438-283-118 overall record.