By Chris Brown

Desjardins nominated for WHL’s top coach award

Apr 5, 2023 | 2:03 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Willie Desjardins is the Central Division nominee for the WHL coach of the year award.

The Medicine Hat Tigers head coach and GM steered the team into the Western Hockey League playoffs this season, one year removed from finishing last in the WHL. The Tigers compiled a 30-29-8-1 record to finish fourth in the Central Division and eighth in the Eastern Conference.

Desjardins won the Dunc McCallum Trophy in 2006 during his first stint with the Tigers. After coaching the Tigers from 2002-2010, he returned to the team for the 2019-20 season. In 13 seasons as a WHL head coach, Desjardins has a record of 429-323-68.

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In between his time with the Tigers, Desjardins was the head coach of the Vancouver Canucks and Los Angeles Kings in the NHL and lead Team Canada at the 2018 Olympics. He also spent time in the Dallas Stars organization as associate coach with the NHL squad and head coach of their top minor league affiliate.

The winner of the Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy will be announced May 3. Also nominated are Mark Lamb (Prince George Cougars), Brennan Sonne (Saskatoon Blades) and Stu Barnes (Tri-City Americans).

Not long after the nominees for the coach of the year award were announced, Desjardins found his name on another awards list.

He’s also nominated for the Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy as executive of the year. The WHL’s announcement notes Desjardins has “stockpiled young talent, including 16-year-old forward Cayden Lindstrom and 2022 WHL Prospects Draft first-overall selection Gavin McKenna, while adding veteran leadership this season in the form of forward Dallon Melin and defenceman Kurtis Smythe.”

Former Tigers head coach and GM Shaun Clouston, who held the roles Desjardins’ two stints, is also up for the award. He’s now with the Kamloops Blazers. Matt Cockell (Winnipeg Ice) and Bil La Forge (Seattle Thunderbirds are the other nominees.

The Tigers host the Winnipeg Ice on Wednesday in Game 4 of their first-round series. Down 3-0, the Tigers need to win to keep their season alive. The Tigers dropped Game 3 on Tuesday 7-2.