Desjardins credits players, coaches upon 400th win as Tigers coach

He thanked team owners the Maser family for giving him his chance and said that coming to Medicine Hat is one of the best decisions he’s ever made.

He says it’s been an honour to coach the franchise.

“It’s a great organization, first of all,” he said. “Great city. So whenever you can do it in Medicine Hat and with the Tigers, I think makes it even more special. But a lot of credit to the players I’ve coached and the coaches I’ve been with. So it’s more of a group effort, certainly not one guy.”

Forward Andrew Basha is one of the many who was part of the 400 wins. Basha joined the Tigers last season and says it’s cool to be a part of the milestone victory, and that Desjardins’ impact is felt on and off the ice.

“He’s made me the player I am right now and you know I’ve definitely grown as a person under him,” he said. “So you know he’s been a really good role model in helping me achieve everything I want and continue to pursue you know all my goals. So he’s been really good.”

Desjardins has been behind the Tigers bench for 13 seasons over two separate stints with the organization.

He coach the team to a pair of league championships and Memorial Cup appearances during his first term from 2003 to 2010 and returned to the Tigers bench and as general manager in 2019.

In between, he coached in the NHL, including as the head coach of the Vancouver Canucks for three seasons and coached Team Canada at the 2018 Beijing Olympics

Basha says the pedigree Desjardins brings isn’t lost on the players.

“Sometimes he talks about what it was like in the NHL and that just kind of makes you want it even more,” he said. “And you know, practice habits stuff like that. Little things that kind of make you better every day, he’s really been good with me for that.”

The Tigers plan to honour Desjardins and celebrate his 400th win at an upcoming home game.

by Chris Brown

Desjardins credits players, coaches upon 400th win as Tigers coach

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