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Compiled from Times wires
© St. Petersburg Times, published April 10, 2001
Mighty Ducks fire Charron
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- It didn't take the Mighty Ducks long to begin tackling the aftermath of a season that included the fewest victories in franchise history.
About 15 hours after finishing with a flat 4-1 home loss to the Sharks, the Ducks on Monday fired coach Guy Charron.
"Guy did a very respectable job for us under very difficult circumstances," general manager Pierre Gauthier said. "Nevertheless, I came to the conclusion that if we want to make the playoffs next season, we need a fresh start with a new coach."
Charron was elevated from assistant Dec. 14 after Craig Hartsburg was fired with the Ducks 11-15-4-3. Anaheim finished last in the Western Conference at 25-46-11-5 and has missed the playoffs in consecutive seasons.
Anaheim had one win fewer than its previous low for a non-strike season, set in 1997-98. With 66 points, it had fewer than Minnesota (68) and Columbus (71), the expansion teams that joined the West this season.
After Charron won his first two games, Paul Kariya cracked bone in his right foot Dec. 17. Without him, Anaheim went 2-11-2.
"I am disappointed," Charron said. "I believe I could have done the job and done it well." CANUCKS: Second-leading scorer Andrew Cassels will miss at least two games of the first-round playoff series against the Avalanche because of a sprained ankle.
STARS: Left wing Jon Sim was recalled from Utah of the IHL, and defenseman Gerald Diduck was activated from injured reserve. Diduck missed the final 38 regular-season games with a hairline ankle fracture.
ATTENDANCE: Helped by the addition of Minnesota and Columbus, the league surpassed 20-million for the first time. Minnesota set an attendance record for a first-year club with 751,472, selling all 18,329 seats for each of its 41 home games. The other teams that sold out every home game were Colorado, Dallas, Detroit, Toronto and the Rangers.