Desjardins nominated for coach, executive of the year awards
By JAMES TUBB on April 6, 2023.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb Willie Desjardins is being recognized as one of the Western Hockey League’s top coaches and executives this season. The Medicine Hat Tigers head coach and general manger was named Wednesday as the Central division nominee for the WHL’s coach of the year and executive of the year. In press releases, the WHL says the Tigers’ turnaround from an 11-win season to 30 victories this year earned him the Dunc McCallum memorial coach of the year nomination, and that same turnaround paired with drafting 16-year-old Cayden Lindstrom and 15-year-old Gavin McKenna and adding veterans Dallon Melin and Kurtis Smythe, was his Lloyd Saunders memorial executive of the year nomination ticket. Desjardins says both awards are an honour but gives the credit to the staff and players of the organization. “We’re different though, my staff, it’s not one guy it’s everybody in the staff,” Desjardins said about his coaching group. “It’s Joe Frazer, Josh Maser, Matt Wong, Jayce (Desjardins) it’s our whole staff that works for this. When I talk to the players the nomination is great but I just became a good coach because they work so hard and got us in the playoffs. If we don’t make the playoffs then I don’t get it. It’s all those guys and what they did, it’s not me. “The executive nomination, that’s more of a staff and that comes from the owners. It comes from Bobby Fox, putting in lots of time, that happens because your head scout picks the right guy. Lots of people put in work and do that, I have two jobs, I don’t do near as much executive stuff as I should. Beth Lanuk does a lot, there’s a lot of different people to pick it up and do that stuff. I just feel really fortunate to have lots of good people around me.” Desjardins won coach of the year, the Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy, in 2006. He also took top honours in the CHL that year. He says their success comes from the buy-in of everyone who represents the black and orange. “That’s just the way we are,” Desjardins said. “So it’s a great thing, but it’s a team award. Hopefully we all can feel part of it.” 11-10
