B3

Stumble Upon

del.icio.us

Digg

Facebook

Print

Email

Speak Up

DALLAS - The Dallas Stars have fired head coach Dave Tippett.

A source told The Canadian Press that the Stars gave Tippett his walking papers yesterday after six seasons. Over that span, Tippett had amassed a 271-156-28-37 record and twice led Dallas to Pacific Conference titles.

His dismissal comes after the NHL club hired former Stars' player Joe Nieuwendyk as its general manager earlier this month.

Tippett was an assistant coach for Canada at the IIHF World Hockey Championship last month. Ironically, Nieuwendyk was an assistant GM to Doug Armstrong on that squad.

Dallas finished 12th this season in the Western Conference with a 36-35-11 record (83 points) and missed the playoffs for the first time under Tippett. Last season, the Stars had a 45-30-7 mark and finished the year with 97 points.

Also this season, the Stars had to deal with the distraction created by derogatory comments made by forward Sean Avery about a former girlfriend, actress Elisha Cuthbert.

Avery was suspended for six games by the NHL on Dec. 5 and agreed to undergo counselling.

The Stars placed Avery on waivers in February and he was claimed by the New York Rangers.

Stars captain Brenden Morrow played in only 18 games, veteran defenceman Sergei Zubov (hip) missed all but seven games, and Brad Richards was out for most of the final two months with hand and wrist injuries.