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Blackhawks hire Dineen as assistant coach

Kevin Dineen

Kevin Dineen talks to the media after the Florida Panthers hockey team announced in Sunrise, Fla., Wednesday, June 1, 2011, that Dineen would become the 11th head coach of the team. He played in more than 1,100 games and scored more than 350 goals. He spent the past six seasons as head coach for the Portland Pirates of the AHL. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

AP

Kevin Dineen will be back behind an NHL bench next season. The Chicago Blackhawks have hired him an assistant coach on Joel Quenneville’s staff.

“Kevin brings proven leadership qualities, having served as an alternate captain and captain for several of his teams during his 19-year NHL career,” said ‘Hawks general manager Stan Bowman in a release. “He will bring another well respected voice to our coaching staff and we look forward to his contributions to our team.”

Dineen was fired as head coach of the Florida Panthers in November. He then took over a stumbling Canadian women’s national team in December, not long before the Olympics started. After making the tough decision to strip Hayley Wickenheiser of the captaincy, he coached Canada to gold in Sochi.

“I am thrilled to join Joel Quenneville, a future hall of fame coach, and Mike Kitchen, as we strive to reach the ultimate goal in professional hockey,” said Dineen. “I look forward to supporting the coaching staff and working with some of the best players in the National Hockey League.”

Dineen will replace Jamie Kompon, who took over for Mike Johnston with WHL Portland.