Hawks’ Quenneville recovering from ulcer

Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville is expected to make a full recovery after being diagnosed Thursday with a small ulcer that resulted in gastrointestinal bleeding.

Hawks team physician Dr. Michael Terry said the ulcer was caused by aspirin.

Quenneville remained hospitalized Thursday and will miss his second straight game Friday when Columbus comes to the United Center.

“We expect him to make a full recovery and to be released in the next few days,” Terry said. “At an appropriate time we will update everyone regarding his release from the hospital and return to the Blackhawks’ bench.”

Assistant coach Mike Haviland said he talked with Quenneville following Wednesday’s 3-1 win over Minnesota and that he was in good spirits.

“I talked to Q late last night after the game and we talked about the game,” Haviland said following Thursday’s practice. “He watched the majority of it and was very pleased and very happy about the game.

“I know he had some tests (Thursday), but he was in good spirits. He was joking and laughing on the phone, so it was good to hear.”

Many of Quenneville’s players have been in contact with their coach via text messages.

“I just sent him a text after the game and I know a lot of guys did as well,” winger Patrick Sharp said. “I’ve been in that position before where you’re away from the team and just to hear from guys in the organization is a good feeling.

“Hopefully it lifted his spirits. I know he was happy with the way we finished the game the last two periods.”

Sharp said he could imagine Quenneville yelling at the TV while watching the Minnesota game in the hospital.

“He was happy to hear from the guys and even had a few comments about the game, so he’s still coaching from the hospital,” Sharp said. “He was happy with the last two periods, so I’m reading into that that he wasn’t happy with the first period.

“I’m sure the staff at the hospital had to go in and tell him to quit yelling and swearing at the TV.”

Being without Quenneville helped rally the Hawks in a game they had to win.

“It’s not a good thing Joel is going through what he’s going through, but we can kind of rally behind him and come together as a team,” Sharp said. “It’s an important time of year and games are running out.”

Haviland will run the bench again against the Blue Jackets after earning rave reviews from the players for the job he did Wednesday.

“Havvy did a great job and it was almost like having Q’s protégé behind there,” winger Patrick Kane said. “He did pretty much the same coaching, same situations, same matchups. It’s good having that predictability.

“A lot of guys thought he did a really good job. You want your main guy behind the bench, but obviously he has more important stuff to worry about and we’ll get him back when we can.”

Haviland gave all the credit to the players for beating the Wild.

“It’s certainly not about me, it’s about the team,” Haviland said. “It was a great effort and a great win. I thought we battled extremely hard for every inch out there and protected the puck well after the first 10 minutes.”

With three games in the next four days, the Hawks might also be without Quenneville Sunday against Pittsburgh and Monday at St. Louis.

“Everyone wants their main leader back,” Kane said. “He’s done a great job the last three years getting us where we need to be and obviously leading us to a Stanley Cup.”

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