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*Blackhawks name Brian Sutter coach*
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CHICAGO (Ticker) -- In order to bring back "the roar," the
Chicago Blackhawks have brought back a Sutter. 

Brian Sutter was named the Blackhawks' sixth coach in five years
on Thursday, becoming the second member of his storied family to
guide the team. 

Blackhawks owner Bill Wirtz and vice president Bob Pulford are
trying to turn around a team that has missed the playoffs four
straight years, its longest drought since 1954-58. 

"I'm excited today because all of us in management have taken a
pledge, and it's to bring back `the roar,'" Wirtz said.  "If we
bring back `the roar,' everything will fall in place." 

In Chicago, Sutter follows younger brother Darryl, who coached
the team from 1992-95. 

"I talked to Darryl a couple of times and my brothers that have
played in Chicago," he said.  "They all treat the Wirtz family,
Mr. Pulford and the fans here with a great deal of respect.  But
I didn't need to talk to them too much because I knew everything
there was about playing in this building. 

"This is a great sports city and the people here understand, on
a day-to-day basis, what hard work is all about, and that's what
they want to see, shift in and shift out.  And if one main thing
was passed down from my brothers, that was it." 

Four of six Sutter brothers to play in the NHL -- at the same
time -- played with the Blackhawks.  Darryl, Dwayne, Brent and
Rich combined for 574 points in 1,105 games from 1979-98. 

"The Blackhawks have had a Sutter in their blood a lot of their
life," Wirtz said.  "It's been two years and we don't do too
well if we don't have a Sutter in the organization." 

Darryl Sutter currently coaches the San Jose Sharks while Duane
finished the regular season as interim coach of the Florida
Panthers. 

Brian Sutter brings hard work and a no-nonsense approach to
Chicago, where a quiet Alpo Suhonen let the players lead rather
than jump-starting the team himself. 

That theory did not work for Suhonen, the first European-born
and trained coach in the post-expansion era who left the team
with seven games to go due to a heart condition.  He departed
amid turmoil and an 11-game winless streak. 

"This is great for our team," Hawks star Tony Amonte said.
"Being a leader last year was hard because of the way Alpo
coached.  The leaders in the locker room had to get other
players going and that's not a player's job." 

Sutter, 44, will have no problem getting his players going, as
he has done in St. Louis, Boston and Calgary. 

"We have not been hesitant to say that one of the areas that we
need to get stronger in is leadership on our team," general
manager Mike Smith said.  "And we need to get some of that
leadership from a coach who accepts that responsibility." 

Sutter won the Adams Award as the league's top coach following
the 1990-91 season after leading the Blues to the NHL's
second-best record (47-22-11). 

He became the winningest coach in Blues history before moving on
to Boston, where in 1992-93 he guided the Bruins to their best
record in a decade and was runner-up for the Adams Award. 

Sutter returned to his native Alberta in 1997 to coach the
Flames, but the team never had a winning record and failed to
make the playoffs in his three seasons. 

Smith limited Chicago's choice to four candidates -- Sutter,
interim coach and Hawks legend Denis Savard and brothers Bryan
and Terry Murray. 

Savard said he was not upset about being passed over for his
first head coaching job. 

"No, I understand the situation," he said.  "They felt it was a
crucial time for our organization and Mr. Wirtz knows that, that
this team has to get in the right direction." 

Savard and Al Mac Adam were retained as assistants. 

"Overall, I'm just thrilled and honored and excited to be here,"
Sutter said. "I'm glad that Denny Savard and Al Mac Adam stick
around to help get this ship going in the right direction. 

"I'm not going to make any promises, but we have to establish
the attitude that this is one tough building to come into and
play.  That is first and foremost." 

st 05-03-01 18:33 et