By Charles Lefebvre

AUDIO: Desjardins to remain committed to South Alberta Hockey Academy while coaching Kings

Nov 5, 2018 | 2:45 PM

DUNMORE, AB — A hockey academy in Cypress County says they will continue working with its founder, even after he became an interim head coach in the National Hockey League this weekend.

On Sunday, the Los Angeles Kings announced Willie Desjardins would be taking over as interim head coach of the team. He will make his debut with the team on Tuesday.

During a media availability on Monday, the Prairie Rose School Division announced Desjardins, who helped found the South Alberta Hockey Academy this summer, would still be involved with the program, even as an NHL coach.

“Willie has ensured we have a full staffing compliment hired prior to his departure, and he will continue to be in regular contact with both our coaching staff and with players to ensure continued mentorship,” said Reagan Weeks, assistant superintendent with PRSD.

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“Daily operations won’t change, but certainly we’ll make use of Google Hangout, and we’ll make sure we set Willie up with our players from the Staples Center.”

Weeks said when they spoke with Desjardins this year when they began planning the academy, he indicated there was a possibility an NHL team could sign him.

With Desjardins now in Los Angeles, teachers and coaching staff will take on additional responsibilities.

Darren MacMillan, a teacher at Eagle Butte High School who helps out with the academy, says he will be helping ensure the academy remains organized with Desjardins not present.

“I think it will be quite seamless, I really do,” he said. “The organization and daily operation, I think will be really quite seamless.”

So far this year, the academy has an enrolment of 60 students. Weeks says she believes Desjardins’ new role with the Los Angeles Kings will help the academy attract more students.

“We expect that families will be thrilled to know that a head coach in the NHL will know their players by their first name, and we think players will see this as a tremendous opportunity. We think, if anything, it will only bring further enhancements to the program we have here.”