Willie Desjardins
| Willie Desjardins | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Desjardins in 2014 with the Calder Cup | |||
| Born |
February 11, 1957 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 |
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, replacing Donn Clark midway through the 1997-98 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
- ^ "Willie Desjardins hockey statistics and profile at hockeydb.com". hockeydb.com. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
- ^ "Willie Desjardins coach Vancouver Canucks | AHOUD Devils Nijmegen". nijmegendevils.nl. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
- ^ "2009 Team Canada Roster". Retrieved June 13, 2012.
- ^ "Desjardins named coach in Texas". Retrieved June 13, 2012.
- ^ [1]
- ^ "Willie Desjardins named Canucks head coach". Retrieved June 23, 2012.
- ^ "Canucks announce Willie Desjardins as 18th head coach in franchise history | (CKNW AM) AM980". cknw.com. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
- ^ "Willie Desjardins hired as coach of Vancouver Canucks - NHL.com - News". nhl.com. Retrieved October 29, 2014.