Hawks reward GM Bowman with 3-year extension

Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman, the youngest GM in the NHL, now has a three-year contract extension that will keep him with the club through the end of the 2015-16 National Hockey League season, Blackhawks officials announced early Tuesday.

“I am very proud of the direction that Stan has taken our hockey operations group in from the moment he took over the role,” John McDonough, Blackhawks president and CEO, said in a statement. “Stan's leadership and collaboration with the entire hockey operations group has developed a strong foundation and gives us the continuity we need as we strive for consistent excellence.”

Bowman, 38, is entering his 11th season with the Blackhawks and third as the head of the team's Hockey Operations Department. He was originally named general manager on July 14, 2009, before being promoted to vice president/general manager on Sept. 7, 2010.

Bowman helped the Hawks the 2010 Stanley Cup during his first year as GM, and the team has registered a .604 regular-season winning percentage (99-51-17) during his tenure as GM and a 19-10 mark (.655) in three Stanley Cup Playoff appearances over three years.

Ÿ Tim Sassone will have more on the contract extension later today at dailyherald.com and in Wednesay's print editions.