Willie Desjardins

Willie Desjardins is the current (As of 2005) General Manager and head coach of the Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Hockey League.

Born in Climax, Saskatchewan, Willie began his hockey career playing for the Lethbridge Broncos from 1974 through 1977. He followed his junior hockey career by studying at the University of Saskatchewan and played with the Huskies under then head coach Dave King. Willie began his coaching career at the University of Calgary in 1985 as assistant coach and became head coach in 1989. Willie 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, Willie 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. Mr. Desjardins brings with him a high standard of excellence as in all his years of coaching hockey only once has he ever missed the playoffs. Willie Desjardins took on the duties of General Manager for the 2005–2006 season.

Willie was awarded the Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy for the Coach of the Year in the Western Hockey League and the Canadian Hockey league. [http://whl.ca/records/awards.php?id=57]

External links

* [http://www.tigershockey.com/ Medicine Hat Tigers homepage]