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Canucks fire head coach Willie Desjardins

Apr 10, 2017 | 11:08 AM

VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Canucks have let go of head coach Willie Desjardins.

The news was announced Monday following the conclusion of the National Hockey League regular season.

 

Desjardins was hired by the Canucks in 2014, replacing John Tortorella. In his first season with the Canucks, he led them to a playoff appearance, but the Canucks have not made the playoffs for two consecutive seasons. This season, the Canucks postedwith a 30-43-9 record, finishing ahead of the Colorado Avalanche for last place in the NHL.

Prior to being hired by the Canucks, Desjardins coached the Medicine Hat Tigers for eight seasons, leading the team to two WHL championships in 2004 and 2007. He also coached the AHL’s Texas Stars for two seasons, winning the Calder Cup in 2014.

In addition to Desjardins, the Canucks also fired assistant coaches Doug Lidster and Perry Pearn. Lidster served as an assistant coach of the Tigers in 2002, and was also an assistant coach of the Texas Stars, both times with Desjardins as head coach. Pearn was previously head coach of the Medicine Hat Tigers in the 1994-95 season.