Medicine Hat Tigers head coach WIllie Desjardins talks to his team during a Western Hockey League game against the Red Deer Rebels at what is now Co-op Place on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019. -- NEWS FILE PHOTO RYAN MCCRACKEN
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Medicine Hat Tigers head coach and general manager Willie Desjardins is back on top of the franchise record book.
Monday night’s 3-2 win over the Red Deer Rebels was Desjardins’ 376th, passing Shaun Clouston for the most wins in Tigers history, but the two-time Tabby coach made a point of sharing the glory.
“You just look at the history of this team and to be part of it is great,” said Desjardins. “To be part of having the most wins is huge too – but saying that, those wins come with the other coaches and with the players. I learned long ago that I’m not the guy responsible for the wins.”
Desjardins previously coached the Tigers from 2002-2010 before stepping away to pursue a career at the AHL, then NHL and Olympic levels. Clouston – who spent six seasons as an assistant and associate coach under Desjardins – took over as head coach for the next nine seasons and passed Desjardins’ previous mark of 324 wins in December of 2017.
Desjardins then rejoined the team for the 2019-20 season, while Clouston now coaches the Kamloops Blazers.
“Shaun Clouston’s a really good coach and to pass a record that he set, it’s good as well,” said Desjardins. “He did a great job with the franchise and he is a good coach. To be able to pass someone like that is special as well.”
Desjardins reflected on his time in Medicine Hat after Monday night’s game and he says the Hat is where his coaching career started. He adds he coached at other levels before joining the Tigers, but coaching in the Western Hockey League is when he started to be recognized at even higher levels.
The Tabbies coach says when he got the job in 2002 he was so excited he forgot to make a crucial stop on his way into the city.
“The only time I ever ran out of gas was when I was driving in here the second time after I got the job,” Desjardins said with a laugh. “I was so looking forward to coming in here and I was thinking of so many things and I forgot to stop in Brooks and fill up and it’s the only time it’s ever happened to me.”
Desjardins coached players such as Joffrey Lupul when he first joined the Tigers and he’s since coached projected first-round pick of the upcoming NHL Entry Draft Cole Sillinger and current Tigers captain Ryan Chyzowski. One thing remains the same – the hard work he sees put in by the players.
“You don’t get lucky to win championships. It’s a lot of hard work and we had a lot of dedication,” said Desjardins. ” … I’ve had a lot of really great people that have helped me and supported me. When I look back at those players and how hard they played, you’re lucky when you can go to the rink with people like that and see them try to get better every day.”
The current Medicine Hat roster is filled with young players and rookie defenceman Rhett Parsons says Desjardins is making an impact on them.
“He’s the best coach I ever had,” said Parsons. “The amount he puts into the guys, it’s unbelievable. For him to get that record, congratulations to him.”
Rookie goalie Beckett Langkow started in net for Desjardins’ record-setting win on Monday, stopping 27 of 29 shots for the win.
“It’s pretty special to be a part of it,” said Langkow. “He’s a great coach and I don’t think anyone’s surprised that he came back here and was able to put together wins, and for him to hold the record again is pretty special.”
Desjardins and the Tigers return to Co-op Place Friday to open a three-game weekend against the Red Deer Rebels at 7 p.m.
