Tigers 2019-2020 preview: Willie’s back: After a decade away from the Tigers, Willie Desjardins returns to reinvigorate hockey in Medicine Hat

By RYAN MCCRACKEN on September 21, 2019.

NEWS PHOTO RYAN MCCRACKEN
Medicine Hat Tigers head coach Willie Desjardins leaves the bench during the first intermission of a pre-season Western Hockey League game against the Swift Current Broncos at Irvine Sports Complex on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2019.

rmccracken@medicinehatnews.com@MHNMcCracken

Willie Desjardins isn’t one to boast about his accomplishments, however there’s one moment he couldn’t help but share ahead of his first season back as head coach and general manager of the Medicine Hat Tigers.

After watching Brennan Bosch slip a shot past Vancouver Giants goaltender Tyson Sexsmith to win Game 7 of the 2007 Western Hockey League championship series in double overtime, Desjardins planted himself on the bench, exhausted.

With players flowing over the edge of the boards, shedding their gloves and helmets in a celebration that will live in the hearts of Hatters for decades to come, Desjardins’ sons Brayden and Jayce — then stick boys with the Tigers — came and sat by their father’s side, soaking in the unforgettable feeling together on the bench at The Arena.

“How great is that? You win and you get to celebrate it with your two boys,” said Desjardins. “Everybody runs out to the pile — because that was an unbelievable victory, an unbelievable moment. It was just a really, really draining series. I was drained from that series … Mentally, all the things that were going on, it was tough, and probably lots of pressure with it too. They were stick boys and they were there, so it was kind of neat. It was funny because a lot of people wouldn’t have seen that. My wife saw it though. It was always a moment she talks about as well.

“I went out on the ice eventually for sure, but initially I just sat with them.”

Twelve years later, Desjardins has returned to that bench — albeit in a different building — while Brayden has taken the reins of a different set of Tigers with South East Athletic Club’s bantam AAAs.

“It’s funny, he asked me about coaching and I said, ‘You don’t want to coach, son.’ And not that I don’t love coaching, obviously I do or I wouldn’t keep doing it, but it’s a hard sport. It’s hard on the family, it’s really unpredictable. For those guys, they’ve seen it and it’s been hard for them. But he loves it,” said Desjardins, adding Brayden and Jayce will both continue to be involved with the WHL’s Tigers moving forward. “(Jayce) is going to help out both of us. He’ll do stuff with Brayden — he was at all of Brayden’s evaluations. He’s going to come out and help me with different things, with video and stuff like that. It’s kind of neat that we can all be involved a little bit. It makes it kind of special.”

After parting ways with the Tigers in 2010, the two-time WHL champion went on to coach on some of hockey’s biggest stages — winning the American Hockey League’s Calder Cup with the Texas Stars in 2014, coaching with the NHL’s Dallas Stars, Vancouver Canucks and Los Angeles Kings and guiding Team Canada to a bronze medal at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games. What’s more, Desjardins’ experiences at the professional level allowed him a very rare opportunity — the chance to coach several former Tigers in the AHL, NHL and even at the Olympics.

“I was fortunate to work with some guys from Medicine Hat. Derek Dorsett was a great guy to work with. Emerson Etem was good. There’s a good group of guys. Linden Vey was there too … Cam Barker was a guy I got to work with, not in the NHL but in the American League,” he said. “I always treasure the guys that were here, I always respect them. I think that whenever you get to see them at a different level it’s great because that’s a level they want to get to.”

But even after several years in the limelight, the Gas City kept calling.

Part of the allure that drew Desjardins back to Medicine Hat is his belief that the city is intrinsically tied to the success of the Tigers. Although he says he doesn’t like to think too far ahead — he hasn’t even pondered the significance of the team’s upcoming home opener against the Highway 3 rival Lethbridge Hurricanes — Desjardins has thought about the way he wants the team to impact and invigorate the city.

“I think it’s really important that you get the city behind you… I see the city and the fans being part of it, I don’t see it separated,” he said. “Our job is to play hard, and if we play hard I believe we’ll get the city behind us — and play hard the right way too. We’ve got to compete and battle every night.”

That sentiment is already shared by his players, as centre Elijah Brown says the excitement coursing through the city due to Desjardins’ reinstatement has crept its way into the dressing room as well.

“I know everyone in this city is happy to have Willie here and I sure am happy to have Willie here,” said Brown. “I don’t know how the season is going to start, but I think our team is looking pretty good, so I’m excited.”

“I think everyone is a lot more excited,” added centre Brett Kemp. “We’re just trying to kind of get a feel for each other here but it’s definitely good. I think we’re all ready to get started here.”

While there haven’t been too many familiar faces for Desjardins since returning to the Tigers, the 62-year-old Climax, Sask. product says he’s thankful for the constants he has — such as the support of owners Darrell and Brent Maser, and the friendship of longtime broadcaster Bob Ridley.

“Bob Ridley’s such a humble guy. He just sees himself as being part of the team and he’s great to be around. All the stories he has, the history he has, it’s incredible what he’s seen with the game and through the game so for me I consider Bob a friend, for sure. He’s a guy that I trust,” said Desjardins. “I think Darrell and Brent Maser are great to work for. They’ve always been good to me. I like that they want to win. I like that it’s important to them.”

Although his roster contains exclusively new faces, Desjardins says he’s noticed shades of certain former Tabby greats in current players, adding it’s hard not to get nostalgic when thinking about all the young men who wore each number over the years.

“Brown reminds me of Ben Thomson, but wears Steve Marr’s number,” said Desjardins. “I always compare guys or think of other guys that have gone through, and that’s a good thing. Guys will leave their own mark, like Brown has to leave his own mark with that number. Each guy has that job — Hamblin’s gotta leave his mark. And those are big jerseys, because I know the guys that have worn them and what they went through.”

The majority of those earlier days also featured Shaun Clouston as one of Desjardins’ assistant coaches — not to mention current assistant Joe Frazer on his lineup for two of the former forward’s three years with the Tabbies.

After spending seven seasons on the bench with Clouston, Desjardins handed the team off to him and moved on to coach with the Stars. Taking back the team 10 years later, Desjardins says he’s impressed with what Clouston accomplished in his time, though his departure this off-season came under unfortunate circumstances.

“This is a tough business sometimes when things happen. I know it would have been really hard for him and his family, and that part, that’s hard,” said Desjardins. “Shaun did a good job with this team. There’s lots of structure in it. When I see it I respect it.”

Clouston has since taken over as head coach of the Kamloops Blazers, and the two coaches will cross paths for the first time since sharing the bench in Medicine Hat when the Tigers enter the Okanagan on Nov. 9.

“He’s off to a great start in Kamloops,” said Desjardins. “I know he’s a good coach, I’ve always known he’s a good coach.”

While his time in the NHL came with its share of undeniable highlights, Desjardins says he isn’t even thinking about the potential of returning to hockey’s biggest stage. Much like the city’s attention has been fixated on his return, Desjardins says he’s focused firmly on finding success in Medicine Hat.

“I’m not worried about that,” he said. “It’s not something that I think about or worry about. I like it here and I want to win here.”