Willie Desjardins

Willie Desjardins
Desjardins in 2014 with the Calder Cup
Born (1957-02-11) February 11, 1957 (age 67)
Climax, Saskatchewan, Canada
Height 5 ft 8 in (173 cm)
Weight 160 lb (73 kg; 11 st 6 lb)
Position Centre
Shot Right
Played for Nijmegen Tigers
Playing career 1977–1984

Wilbrod "Willie" Desjardins (born February 11, 1957) is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach and player. He is currently head coach and general manager of the WHL's Medicine Hat Tigers. He has also been the head coach of the NHL's Vancouver Canucks from 2014 to 2017 and the interim head coach for the Los Angeles Kings for the 2018–19 season. In July 2017, he was named head of the coaching staff for Canada's men's team at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.[1]

Playing career

Desjardins began his hockey career playing in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) for the Moose Jaw Canucks from 1971 to 1974 and split the 1974-75 season between the Moose Jaw Canucks and the Swift Current Broncos (WHL). He played in the Western Canada Hockey League (WCHL) for the Lethbridge Broncos from 1975 through 1977.[2]

He followed his junior hockey career by studying at the University of Saskatchewan and played with the Saskatchewan Huskies under head coach Dave King, serving as captain of the 1982-83 University of Saskatchewan Huskies team that won the national CIAU University Cup championship, after losing back-to-back national championship finals in previous seasons;[3] with Desjardins winning the Major W.J. "Danny" McLeod Award in 1978, as Most Valuable Player of the national championship tournament.[4] King recommended him to Alex Andjelic, head coach of Vissers Nijmegen in the Netherlands. Desjardins spent the 1983/84 season in Nijmegen and won, as captain, the first Dutch championship with the club.[5]

Coaching career

Desjardins began his coaching career at the University of Calgary in 1985 as assistant coach and became head coach in 1989. He then coached the Seibu Bears in Japan. He then returned to Canada and became head coach of the Saskatoon Blades, replacing Donn Clark midway through the 1997–98 season. He was then offered a job as an assistant coach for the Canada men's national team.

Once hired by the Medicine Hat Tigers, Desjardins was instrumental in the Tigers' first playoff appearance in five years in the 2002–03 season, leading them to a Memorial Cup appearance and their 4th WHL championship in 2003–04, and a 96-point Eastern Conference regular season champion 2004–05 season. Desjardins took on the duties of general manager for the 2005–06 season.

Desjardins was awarded the Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy for the Coach of the Year in the Western Hockey League and the Canadian Hockey League.[6]

In 2009, he was the assistant coach of Team Canada's World Junior Gold medal team, under head coach Pat Quinn and alongside fellow assistant coaches Guy Boucher and Dave Cameron.[7] Desjardins was the head coach of Team Canada's 2010 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships team.

From 2010 to 2012, Desjardins served as the associate head coach of the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League before being selected as the head coach of their AHL team in Cedar Park, Texas in June 2012.[8] On June 17, 2014, he led his Texas Stars team to their first Calder Cup Championship.

On June 23, 2014, Desjardins was hired as the head coach for the Vancouver Canucks, replacing John Tortorella, who was dismissed as head coach after one season.[9] On April 10, 2017, he was fired after the team missed the playoffs for the second consecutive season, along with assistants Perry Pearn and Doug Lidster.[10] Desjardins posted a record of 109–110–27 in three seasons with the club.

On July 25, 2017, he was named head coach of Canada's men's team at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, with his university head coach Dave King as an assistant.[1] In December 2017, he led Team Canada to gold at the Spengler Cup in Davos.[11]

On November 4, 2018, Desjardins was named interim head coach by the Los Angeles Kings after they fired John Stevens.[12][13] Desjardins' presence did not lead to the team improving as the Kings went 27–34–8 and finished in last place in the Western Conference. One day after the season ended, the Kings announced that they would not bring Desjardins back for the 2019–20 season.

On May 31, 2019, it was announced that Desjardins had been re-hired as head coach and general manager of the Medicine Hat Tigers.[14]

Personal life

Desjardins holds bachelor of education (BEd) and a master of social work (MSW) degrees.[15] He and his wife, Rhonda, have two sons and a daughter.[16]

Head coaching record

WHL

Team Year Regular season Playoffs
G W L T OTL Pts Pct Division rank Result
Saskatoon Blades 1997–98 39 10 23 6 – 26 .333 4th in East Lost in 1st Round
Medicine Hat Tigers 2002–03 72 29 34 2 7 67 .465 3rd in Central Lost in 2nd Round
Medicine Hat Tigers 2003–04 72 40 20 9 3 92 .639 1st in Central Won Championship
Medicine Hat Tigers 2004–05 72 45 21 4 2 96 .667 1st in Central Lost in 2nd Round
Medicine Hat Tigers 2005–06 72 47 16 – 9 103 .715 1st in Central Lost in 3rd Round
Medicine Hat Tigers 2006–07 72 52 17 – 3 107 .743 1st in Central Won Championship
Medicine Hat Tigers 2007–08 72 43 22 – 7 93 .646 3rd in Central Lost in 1st Round
Medicine Hat Tigers 2008–09 72 36 29 – 7 79 .549 2nd in Central Lost in 2nd Round
Medicine Hat Tigers 2009–10 72 41 23 – 8 90 .625 3rd in Central Lost in 2nd Round
Medicine Hat Tigers 2019-20 63 41 19 - 3 85 .675 2nd in Central Incomplete due to COVID-19 Pandemic
Medicine Hat Tigers 2020-21 23 14 8 - 1 29 .630 no standings[a] no playoffs[a]
Medicine Hat Tigers 2021-22 68 11 53 - 3 26 .191 6th in Central Missed

Playoffs

Medicine Hat Tigers 2022-23 68 30 29 - 9 69 .507 4th in Central Lost in 1st Round
Medicine Hat Tigers 2023-24 68 37 23 - 8 82 .667 2nd in Central Lost in 1st Round
WHL Totals 932 493 345 21 72 998 .530 4 Division Titles 11 Playoff Appearances
2 Championships

AHL

Team Year Regular season Playoffs
G W L OTL Pts Pct Division rank Result
Texas Stars 2012–13 76 43 22 11 97 .638 1st in South Lost in 2nd Round
Texas Stars 2013–14 76 48 18 10 106 .697 1st in South Won Calder Cup
AHL Totals 152 91 40 21 203 .668 2 Division Titles 2 Playoff Appearances
1 Calder Cup

NHL

Team Year Regular season Postseason
G W L OTL Pts Finish W L Win% Result
VAN 2014–15 82 48 29 5 101 2nd in Pacific 2 4 .333 Lost in First Round (Flames)
VAN 2015–16 82 31 38 13 75 6th in Pacific — — — Missed playoffs
VAN 2016–17 82 30 43 9 69 7th in Pacific — — — Missed playoffs
VAN total 246 109 110 27 245   2 4 .333  
LAK 2018–19 69 27 34 8 (71) 8th in Pacific — — — Missed playoffs
LAK total 69 27 34 8 71   — — –  
Total 315 136 144 35 307 .487 1 Playoff Appearance

Notes

  1. ^ a b The 2020–21 WHL regular season was shortened, started late, then was cancelled early, and no playoffs were held, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The Medicine Hat Tigers were in a mathematical position to finish anywhere from 2nd to 4th in the Central Division when the season was cancelled.

References

  1. ^ a b Harrison, Doug (July 25, 2017). "Willie Desjardins fronts Canadian Olympic hockey coaching staff". CBC Sports. Archived from the original on December 30, 2017. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
  2. ^ "Willie Desjardins hockey statistics and profile at hockeydb.com". hockeydb.com. Archived from the original on September 1, 2019. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
  3. ^ Heroux, Devin (February 1, 2018). "Canadian Olympic hockey coaches go way back to the 'dog' days". CBC Sports. Archived from the original on February 1, 2018. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
  4. ^ "Major W.J. 'Danny' McLeod Award (Championship MVP)" (PDF). U Sports. March 17, 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 20, 2023. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
  5. ^ "Willie Desjardins coach Vancouver Canucks | AHOUD Devils Nijmegen". nijmegendevils.nl. Archived from the original on October 23, 2014. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
  6. ^ "Official WHL Website ::". whl.ca. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007.
  7. ^ "2009 Team Canada Roster". Archived from the original on December 24, 2014. Retrieved June 13, 2012.
  8. ^ "Desjardins named coach in Texas". Archived from the original on October 16, 2014. Retrieved June 13, 2012.
  9. ^ "Willie Desjardins named Canucks head coach". Archived from the original on July 3, 2014. Retrieved June 23, 2012.
  10. ^ "Canucks relieve Willie Desjardins of duties". NHL.com. April 10, 2017. Archived from the original on April 18, 2023. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
  11. ^ "Canada defends Spengler Cup title with 3-0 victory over Switzerland". CTVNews. December 31, 2017. Archived from the original on January 1, 2018. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
  12. ^ Greenspan, Dan (November 4, 2018). "Stevens fired as coach of Kings, Desjardins named replacement". NHL.com. Archived from the original on August 28, 2019. Retrieved November 5, 2018.
  13. ^ "Willie Desjardins Named Head Coach; John Stevens Relieved of His Duties". NHL.com. November 4, 2018. Archived from the original on June 26, 2019. Retrieved November 5, 2018.
  14. ^ "Willie Desjardins Named GM & Head Coach". OurSports Central. May 31, 2019. Archived from the original on June 1, 2019. Retrieved June 1, 2019.
  15. ^ "Canucks announce Willie Desjardins as 18th head coach in franchise history | (CKNW AM) AM980". cknw.com. Archived from the original on May 9, 2015. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
  16. ^ "Willie Desjardins hired as coach of Vancouver Canucks - NHL.com - News". nhl.com. Archived from the original on December 11, 2014. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
Preceded by Head coach of the Vancouver Canucks
2014–2017 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Head coach of the Los Angeles Kings
(interim)
2018–2019 		Succeeded by