Caps fire coach Bruce Cassidy

Last Updated: Wednesday, December 10, 2003 | 12:02 PM ET

CBC Sports

The Washington Capitals fired head coach Bruce Cassidy on Wednesday.

After incurring an abysmal 8-18-1-1 record, the Caps fired Cassidy and have replaced him with Glen Hanlon.

The 46-year-old Hanlon becomes the 13th head coach in Washington history, taking over a team that is tied for last place with Pittsburgh in the NHL with 18 points.

After a terrible start to the season, the Washington Capitals fired coach Bruce Cassidy on Wednesaday. (CP Photo)

It is Hanlon's first head coaching job in the NHL.

Cassidy, a native of Ottawa, Ont., took over as Caps coach on June 25, 2002. In less than two seasons at the helm, Cassidy had a record of 47-47-9-7.

The team has called a news conference for Wednesday afternoon to officially introduce Hanlon, an assistant under Cassidy, as the new coach.

Cassidy's dismissal comes on the heels on a locker-room outburst last week when he told players they shouldn't use family problems as an excuse for playing poorly.