Willie Desjardins

Willie Desjardins
Desjardins in 2014 with the Calder Cup
Born	February 11, 1957 Climax, SK, CAN
Height	5 ft 8 in (173 cm)
Weight	160 lb (73 kg; 11 st 6 lb)
Position	Centre
Shot	Right
Played for	Moose Jaw Canucks Swift Current Broncos Lethbridge Broncos Nijmegen Tigers
Playing career	1971–1984

Wilbrod "Willie" Desjardins (born February 11, 1957) is the current head coach of the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL).

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. He played in the Western Canada Hockey League (WCHL) for the Lethbridge Broncos from 1975 through 1977.^[1] He followed his junior hockey career by studying at the University of Saskatchewan and played with the Saskatchewan Huskies under then head coach Dave King. 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.^[2]

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 midway through the 1997 season. He was then offered a job as an assistant coach for the Canadian National Men's Hockey Team.

Once hired by the Medicine Hat Tigers, Desjardins was instrumental in the Tigers first playoff appearance in five years in the 2002–2003 season, leading them to a Memorial Cup appearance and their 4th WHL championship in 2003–2004, and a 96-point Eastern Conference regular season champion 2004–2005 season. Desjardins took on the duties of General Manager for the 2005–2006 season.

2009 He was the Assistant coach of Team Canada's World Junior Gold medal team. Under head coach Pat Quinn and alongside other Assistant coaches Guy Boucher and Dave Cameron.^[3]

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.^[4] On June 17, 2014, he led his Texas Stars team to their first Calder Cup Championship.

Desjardins was awarded the Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy for the Coach of the Year in the Western Hockey League and the Canadian Hockey league.^[5]

On June 23, 2014, Desjardins was hired as the head coach for the Vancouver Canucks,^[6] replacing John Tortorella, who was dismissed as head coach after one season.

Personal life

He holds a Bachelor of Education (BEd) and a Master of Social Work (MSW).^[7] He is married and has three kids.^[8]

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
WHL Totals		615	343	205	21	46	753	.612	4 Division Titles	9 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							Playoffs
		G	W	L	OTL	Pts	Pct	Division rank	Result
Vancouver Canucks	2014–15	82	48	29	5	101	.616	2nd in Pacific	Lost in 1st Round (CGY)
Vancouver Canucks	2015–16	82	31	38	13	75	.457	6th in Pacific	Missed playoffs
NHL Totals		164	79	67	18	176	.533		1 Playoff Appearance

References

1. "Willie Desjardins hockey statistics and profile at hockeydb.com". hockeydb.com. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
2. "Willie Desjardins coach Vancouver Canucks | AHOUD Devils Nijmegen". nijmegendevils.nl. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
3. "2009 Team Canada Roster". Retrieved June 13, 2012.
4. "Desjardins named coach in Texas". Retrieved June 13, 2012.
6. "Willie Desjardins named Canucks head coach". Retrieved June 23, 2012.
7. "Canucks announce Willie Desjardins as 18th head coach in franchise history | (CKNW AM) AM980". cknw.com. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
8. "Willie Desjardins hired as coach of Vancouver Canucks - NHL.com - News". nhl.com. Retrieved October 29, 2014.

External links

• Medicine Hat Tigers homepage
• Willie Desjardins's career statistics at The Internet Hockey Database