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Chicago makes Quenneville extension official, runs through 2017

Joel Quenneville

Chicago Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville smiles as he talks to reporters during the team’s media day Friday, Sept. 17, 2010 in Chicago. The Blackhawks will start their defense of the Stanley Cup with their first practice sold out at the United Center Saturday. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

AP

The Chicago Blackhawks made the heavily-rumored Joel Quenneville contract extension official on Friday, inking their head coach to a three-year deal.

“I’m privileged to coach probably the best group in the league,” Quenneville said during today’s presser.

The new contract will kick in at the end of Quenneville’s current deal, set to expire after the 2013-14 season. That means Coach Q will -- barring an early dismissal -- be in Chicago until 2017.

This new pact has some familiarity to it as Quenneville, 54, also signed a three-year extension in 2010 after winning the Cup snapping the Blackhawks’ 49-year championship drought.

The former St. Louis and Colorado bench boss has achieved huge success in the Windy City since taking over the ‘Hawks head coaching gig from Denis Savard just four games into the 2008-09 season.

This past season, Quenneville earned his first Jack Adams nomination as Blackhawks head coach -- he won one in 2000 with the Blues -- after leading Chicago to just its second-ever Presidents’ Trophy.

Over the course of his five seasons with the ‘Hawks, Quenneville has racked up 222 wins -- second most in franchise history.

That said, Coach Q still has a ways to go before catching franchise leader Billy Reay, who coached the ‘Hawks from 1963-76 and racked up 516 career wins.