BOSTON, June 29 (UPI) -- The Boston Bruins Thursday hired Dave Lewis to replace the fired Mike Sullivan as head coach.
Lewis, who has signed a four-year contract, was introduced at a news conference by incoming general manager Peter Chiarelli.
"In the end, I chose Dave Lewis for a variety of reasons," Chiarelli said. "We shared many common objectives. Dave has a passion for the game, but at the same time, he is a student of the game."
"It's a great honor," Lewis said. "It's an opportunity for me to grow with the team. This is a great day, but I hope it's not the best day I have with the Boston Bruins."
Sullivan was fired after Boston finished 13th in the Eastern Conference with a 29-37-16 record last season, and missed the playoffs for the first time since the 2000-01 season.
In 2003-04, the Bruins had the second-best record in the Eastern Conference.
