CHICAGO _ Former Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville has avoided speaking to reporters since his firing in November.
But on Sunday, while coaching a team of Hawks alumni in a charity hockey game in Willowbrook, Illinois, Quenneville broke his silence and spoke to WGN-TV's Dan Roan about his ouster, his future coaching plans and the Hawks' playoff push.
Quenneville was linked to the Flyers' head coaching job in December, but that never materialized. He told Roan he has "an appetite" to get back into hockey and was asked if he would be coaching sooner or later.
"Sooner with no hurry right now," Quenneville said. "We'll see how things transpire in the offseason. We'll have to think about it and we'll see."
Quenneville was fired by the Blues and Avalanche earlier in his career, so it was something he had been through before, though he said the circumstances with the Hawks were far less contentious.
"It's part of the business," he said. "I understand all that. I know when I exited other places the bitterness and the animosity was at a different level, and here the memories are so special and so good and the people are so special to me and our family that it was tough.
"I never got to thank the fans since I left, but I've got nothing but appreciation and admire all they've done and supported our team and our experience here in Chicago."
The Hawks were 6-6-3 when Quenneville was fired during his 11th season with the team, which included three Stanley Cup titles that cemented his place as one of Chicago's legendary coaches. New coach Jeremy Colliton got off to a slow start, but the Hawks are 16-6 in their last 22 games and within five points of a playoff spot.
"I watch a lot of games," he said. "I try not to watch as much Blackhawks as I used to. But I watch most of the games and it's been a great race and it's going to be fun to see how it all plays out."
