Anders Sörensen

Anders Sörensen
Sörensen in 2022
Born (1975-05-11) 11 May 1975
Södertälje, Sweden
Height 5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight 172 lb (78 kg; 12 st 4 lb)
Position Defence
Shot Left
Played for Ducs d'Angers
Sparta Sarpsborg
Current NHL coach Chicago Blackhawks
NHL draft Undrafted
Playing career 1993–2000
Coaching career 2011–present

Anders Sörensen (born 11 May 1975) is a Swedish professional ice hockey assistant coach with the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He previously coached the Rockford IceHogs, Chicago's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate. Sörensen was the Blackhawks' interim head coach during the 2024–25 NHL season. He is the first Swedish-born head coach in NHL history.[1]

Playing career

Sörensen played for Södertälje SK as a defenceman from 1992–1995. He also played for clubs in France and Norway.[2] Sörensen traveled to North America to play for the Mobile Mysticks and Baton Rouge Kingfish of the ECHL during the 1999–2000 season. He tallied three goals and one assist in 37 games.[3] He retired from playing in 2000 and went into coaching.[2]

Coaching career

Sörensen coached various youth hockey programs throughout the early 2000s in the Chicago area.[4] In 2006, he began coaching for the Chicago Mission of the Tier 1 Elite Hockey League, where he helped develop future NHLers Ryan Hartman, Vinnie Hinostroza, and Nick Schmaltz.[5]

Sörensen returned to his hometown of Södertälje to become an assistant coach for Södertälje SK of HockeyAllsvenskan in 2011. He was named as the team's interim head coach in October 2013.[6][3]

He joined the Chicago Blackhawks organization in 2013 as a development coach. Sörensen transitioned to the Rockford IceHogs of the AHL in 2018, serving as an assistant coach and later as an associate coach. In 2021, he took over as the interim head coach of the IceHogs.[7][3] Sörensen maintained a 117–89–16–7 record in 229 games through his first three seasons as head coach and reached the playoffs in each of these seasons.[6]

On 5 December 2024, the Blackhawks appointed Sörensen their interim head coach after firing Luke Richardson,[6] making Sörenson the first Swedish-born head coach in NHL history.[1] He made his NHL debut on 7 December, in a 4–2 loss to the Winnipeg Jets.[8] Sörensen concluded his first season in the NHL with a 17–30–9 record as the Blackhawks finished last the Central division and with the second-worst record in the league.[9] In May 2025, the Blackhawks hired Jeff Blashill as their head coach. The team retained Sörensen as an assistant coach under Blashill.[10]

Personal life

Sörensen is married and has four children.[2] He is close friends with fellow Swede Michael Nylander. Sörensen was the personal coach of Michael's sons, William and Alexander Nylander.[11]

Career statistics

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GPGAPtsPIM GPGAPtsPIM
1993–94 Södertälje SK SWE.2 20000 —————
1994–95 Södertälje SK J20 2609928 —————
1995–96 Södertälje SK J20 275121720 —————
1995–96 Södertälje SK SWE.2 100000 30000
1996–97 Ducs d'Angers FRA 252131528 —————
1997–98 Sparta Sarpsborg NOR 437202720 —————
1998–99 Fort Worth Fire CHL 173694 —————
1998–99 Tupelo T-Rex WPHL 80118 —————
1999–00 Mobile Mysticks ECHL 292138 —————
1999–00 Baton Rouge Kingfish ECHL 81016 20000
FRA totals 252131528 —————
NOR totals 437202720 —————

Head coaching record

HockeyAllsvenskan

TeamYearRegular seasonPostseason
GWOTWOTLLPtsFinishWLWin%Result
SSK2013–14 2052112(20)(interim)————
Total2052112  ——— 

AHL

TeamYearRegular seasonPostseason
GWLOTLSOLPtsFinishWLWin %Result
RFD2021–22 66352641(75)4th in Central23.400Lost in division semifinals (CHI)
RFD2022–23 72352854795th in Central23.400Lost in division semifinals (TEX)
RFD2023–24 72392652853rd in Central13.250Lost in division semifinals (GR)
RFD2024–25 198920(18)(promoted)————
Total22911789167  59.3573 playoff appearances

NHL

TeamYearRegular seasonPostseason
GWLOTLPtsFinishWLWin %Result
CHI2024–25 5617309(43)8th in Central———Missed playoffs
Total5617309  ——— 

References

  1. 1 2 Proteau, Adam (5 December 2024). "Five Coaching Candidates For The Chicago Blackhawks: Sorensen Gets First Crack". The Hockey News. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 "2023 IHHOF Inductee Bios" (PDF). Illinois Hall of Fame. 2023. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 December 2024. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 Taft, Jay (12 July 2022). "Chicago Blackhawks name new head coach of Rockford IceHogs amid busy time". Rockford Register Star. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  4. ↑ Brown, Nate (8 January 2024). "Illinois Hockey Hall of Fame Calls Anders Sorensen: 'He's The Whole Package'". Chicago Hockey Now. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  5. ↑ Powers, Scott (12 May 2022). "IceHogs interim coach Anders Sorensen is pairing development and winning for Blackhawks prospects". The Athetlic. New York Times. Retrieved 5 December 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  6. 1 2 3 "RELEASE: Blackhawks Announce Coaching Changes". National Hockey League. 5 December 2024. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  7. ↑ Powers, Scott (5 December 2024). "Blackhawks fire Luke Richardson after 8-16-2 start, name Anders Sorensen interim coach". The Athletic. New York Times. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  8. ↑ Sullivan, Paul (7 December 2024). "Column: Chicago Blackhawks fall flat in Anders Sorensen's coaching debut, losing to the Winnipeg Jets 4-2". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  9. ↑ Pope, Ben (14 April 2025). "Takeaways from Blackhawks". Chicago Sun-times. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  10. ↑ "RELEASE: Blackhawks Hire Anders Sorensen and Michael Peca as Assistant Coaches". Chicago Blackhawks. May 27, 2025. Retrieved May 27, 2025.
  11. ↑ Traikos, Michael (4 September 2014). "Toronto Maple Leafs' William Nylander builds his game on skill, hockey sense and lessons from his father". National Post. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
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