Willie Desjardins

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Willie Desjardins
Willie Desjardins with Calder Cup 06-17-2014.jpg
Desjardins in 2014 with the Calder Cup
Born (1957-02-11) February 11, 1957 (age 66)
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]

Contents

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] Desjardins is also the owner of a golf course, two RV parks, and a mini golf course. His daughter, Sheehan, studied journalism, has a degree in broadcasting, and works for Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, based out of Prince Edward Island. His youngest son has a decorated League Gaming career, winning 3 LG Stanley Cups, the first person in PSN history to achieve such a feat. In addition to his LG success, he led his team to a first place finish in the CBJ Gaming Summer Skate. [17]

Head coaching record

WHL

TeamYearRegular seasonPlayoffs
GWLTOTLPtsPctDivision rankResult
Saskatoon Blades 1997–98 3910236–26.3334th in EastLost in 1st Round
Medicine Hat Tigers 2002–03 7229342767.4653rd in CentralLost in 2nd Round
Medicine Hat Tigers 2003–04 7240209392.6391st in CentralWon Championship
Medicine Hat Tigers 2004–05 7245214296.6671st in CentralLost in 2nd Round
Medicine Hat Tigers 2005–06 724716–9103.7151st in CentralLost in 3rd Round
Medicine Hat Tigers 2006–07 725217–3107.7431st in CentralWon Championship
Medicine Hat Tigers 2007–08 724322–793.6463rd in CentralLost in 1st Round
Medicine Hat Tigers 2008–09 723629–779.5492nd in CentralLost in 2nd Round
Medicine Hat Tigers 2009–10 724123–890.6253rd in CentralLost in 2nd Round
WHL Totals6153432052146753.6124 Division Titles9 Playoff Appearances
2 Championships

AHL

TeamYearRegular seasonPlayoffs
GWLOTLPtsPctDivision rankResult
Texas Stars 2012–13 7643221197.6381st in SouthLost in 2nd Round
Texas Stars 2013–14 76481810106.6971st in SouthWon Calder Cup
AHL Totals152914021203.6682 Division Titles2 Playoff Appearances
1 Calder Cup

NHL

TeamYearRegular seasonPostseason
GWLOTLPtsFinishWLWin%Result
VAN 2014–15 82482951012nd in Pacific 24.333Lost in First Round (Flames)
VAN 2015–16 82313813756th in Pacific———Missed playoffs
VAN 2016–17 8230439697th in Pacific———Missed playoffs
VAN total24610911027245 24.333 
LAK 2018–19 6927348(71)8th in Pacific———Missed playoffs
LAK total692734871 ——– 
Total31513614435307.4871 Playoff Appearance

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References

  1. 1 2 Harrison, Doug (July 25, 2017). "Willie Desjardins fronts Canadian Olympic hockey coaching staff". CBC Sports. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
  2. ↑ "Willie Desjardins hockey statistics and profile at hockeydb.com". hockeydb.com. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
  3. ↑ Heroux, Devin (February 1, 2018). "Canadian Olympic hockey coaches go way back to the 'dog' days". CBC Sports. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
  4. ↑ "Major W.J. 'Danny' McLeod Award (Championship MVP)" (PDF). U Sports . March 17, 2019. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
  5. ↑ "Willie Desjardins coach Vancouver Canucks | AHOUD Devils Nijmegen". nijmegendevils.nl. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Official WHL Website ::". whl.ca. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007.
  7. ↑ "2009 Team Canada Roster" . Retrieved June 13, 2012.
  8. ↑ "Desjardins named coach in Texas" . Retrieved June 13, 2012.
  9. ↑ "Willie Desjardins named Canucks head coach" . Retrieved June 23, 2012.
  10. ↑ "Canucks relieve Willie Desjardins of duties". NHL.com. April 10, 2017. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
  11. ↑ "Canada defends Spengler Cup title with 3-0 victory over Switzerland". CTVNews. December 31, 2017. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
  12. ↑ Greenspan, Dan (November 4, 2018). "Stevens fired as coach of Kings, Desjardins named replacement". NHL.com. Retrieved November 5, 2018.
  13. ↑ "Willie Desjardins Named Head Coach; John Stevens Relieved of His Duties". NHL.com. November 4, 2018. Retrieved November 5, 2018.
  14. ↑ "Willie Desjardins Named GM & Head Coach". OurSports Central. May 31, 2019.
  15. ↑ "Canucks announce Willie Desjardins as 18th head coach in franchise history | (CKNW AM) AM980". cknw.com. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
  16. ↑ "Willie Desjardins hired as coach of Vancouver Canucks - NHL.com - News". nhl.com. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
  17. ↑ "Desjy99 LeagueGaming Profile". leaguegaming.com. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
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
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