The son of Södertälje is the first European-born head coach in the NHL since the 2001-02 season when the Czech legend Ivan Hlinka was fired by Pittsburgh after just over a season. Hlinka died in a car accident in 2004.
For many years, there has been talk about who would become the first Swedish head coach in the NHL.
Anders Sörensen says in a digital interview with Swedish journalists that he believed in Ulf Samuelsson.
Uffe has been around both in AHL and NHL and was here in Chicago as an assistant, so I thought he would be the first.
Rickard Grönborg, Tommy Albelin, and Ulf Dahlén are others who have been mentioned.
It was Anders Sörensen.
It's actually incredible if you think about the journey I've made. Especially considering how many good coaches we've had in Sweden over the years, it's clear that it becomes a bit "oh, this is really happening". You become very humble, he says.
"One day at a time"
Last week, the news came that the classic club had fired Luke Richardson after a poor season start. Instead, Sörensen was promoted from head coach of the farm team Rockford.
The assignment is temporary – but can become permanent if it goes well.
We'll see, it's up to the club. I take one day at a time, says Sörensen, who is in his eleventh season in Chicago's organization.
He started as a player developer, became an assistant in Rockford, and his assignment as head coach in the farm team began as a temporary solution that later became permanent.
Sörensen's NHL debut ended with a loss to Winnipeg, but already in the second game away against New York Rangers, Sörensen took his first win.
You were happy, absolutely, especially for the team. Then when people start congratulating you, it's clear that you think about it. The experience was powerful.
The legend's text message
Legendary coach Scotty Bowman, who has become something of a mentor, sent a text message. Bowman is the winningest coach in NHL history with 1,244 regular season wins.
Scotty texted and wrote congratulations, now you only have 1,243 wins left, laughs Sörensen.
He leads a team under reconstruction, but with many talented players. Like Connor Bedard, the 19-year-old who was selected as number one in the 2023 draft.
I'm really impressed by him, he's very humble and focused. It's important to get development on the young players, but also important to win games, he says.
Age: 49.
Mother club: Spaif, Södertälje.
Player career: Played 12 matches in Södertälje SK in division 1 1994-96. Stopped at the age of 25 due to concussion problems, then in the farm league to AHL, ECHL, in the USA.
Coaching career: Södertälje (assistant 2011-13, temporary head coach 13-14), Chicago Blackhawks/Rockford (14-19 player developer), Rockford (18-21, assistant coach), Rockford (21-24 head coach), Chicago (24-25, temporary head coach).
