Pulford Fires, Then Replaces Tessier as Black Hawk Coach

After a short and stormy reign as head coach of the Chicago Black Hawks, Orval Tessier was fired Monday by General Manager Bob Pulford, who took over as interim head coach for a second time.

Pulford, who once served as both coach and general manager of the National Hockey League team, relieved Keith Magnuson in 1982 before hiring Tessier.

Pulford could have named assistant coach Roger Neilson to the top job, but said: “I had considered it, but I felt at this stage that would be unfair. I felt I’m the one that has to take over and I have.”

Tessier, 51, took over for the 1982-83 season when he led the Black Hawks to a 47-23-10 record and a Norris Division title. The Hawks reached the Campbell Conference Stanley Cup finals that season, and Tessier was named NHL Coach of the Year.

But everything has been downhill for Tessier since then.

When the Hawks lost a home-and-home weekend series to the first-place St. Louis Blues, their record fell to 22-28-3.

“We weren’t going anywhere and we were sliding back in the pack,” Pulford said. “I don’t think we were playing as well as we could. In any sport, the coach has to take the brunt of it--you can’t replace 20 players. Orval is a fine man and I hope he remains in the organization.”

Tessier departed Sunday after a 6-4 loss--the Hawks’ fourth straight--without his usual postgame news conference and was unavailable for comment.