NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB Medicine Hat Tigers head coach Willie Desjardins offers a quick wave after being honoured for his 400th win as Tigers head coach Saturday night following the 6-3 victory against the Moose Jaw Warriors at Co-op Place.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
As the clock wound down on the Medicine Hat Tigers 6-3 win Saturday at Co-op Place, all eyes were focused on Willie Desjardins.
The victory against the Moose Jaw Warriors gave the franchise’s winningest coach his 400th win behind the Tigers bench and came in a strong fashion as his team scored early and held the Warriors at bay. But for Desjardins it was just another game. He claims he didn’t know the significance until the last second.
“It’s funny, I didn’t even think about the game and I forgot all about it until the end when I turned to shake (assistant coach) Josh Maser’s hand,” Desjardins said. “You just get in the moment and a win is a win and you want that win. But it is a memorable win, this was a really tough game and I was really proud of our team.”
The 65-year-old is in his 12th season with the Tigers organization in two different tenures, the first spanning from 2002-2010, where he won two league championships along with two trips to the Memorial Cup before he left to coach in the AHL and NHL. He returned behind the Tigers bench ahead of the 2019-20 season.
After a quick curtain call for the fans, Desjardins entered the locker room and avoided a quick showering from his team according to associate coach Joe Frazer.
“The guys tried to get him with a water bucket but they were a little too loud talking about it,” Frazer said. “I’ve never seen Willie sprint that fast in my life, he had some good wheels running down the hallway and the boys were chasing them. Everybody was just super excited.”
Frazer has worked with Desjardins on both sides of the bench, playing for him for two years and coaching alongside him for another four. He says he’s fortunate to work with him every single day.
“He’s an unbelievable coach but I tell everybody this, he’s a better human, he’s just one of the one best people you’ll ever meet,” Frazer said. “There’s a reason guys want to play here and play for him, he truly believes in you as a person and believes in you as a player more than anyone you’ve ever played for. We’d all go through a wall for him so it’s an unbelievable accomplishment and I’m very fortunate to be a part of it.”
Tigers defenceman Dru Krebs has played his entire WHL career under Desjardins, he says the biggest impact he’s had is the confidence instilled in his players.
“He’s a believer.”
“He makes everybody believe they’re going to reach their dreams and goals, my dream of playing professional hockey,” Krebs said.
After avoiding a shower at the hands of his players, Desjardins joined Tigers broadcaster Gino De Paoli on his post-game show where the legendary Bob Ridley joined in to ‘grill’ his longtime friend. Ridley said it was a special game to watch and enjoyed getting to talk on the airwaves again with Desjardins.
“It’s always special to watch and Willie is a very special person,” Ridley said. “He’s the type of guy that doesn’t really blow his own horn at all and he should more often because he’s very talented person, he was as a player and he certainly is as a coach. He’s got a way with the young players, they really enjoy playing for him. So to be able to throw a few questions at him after the game on Gino’s show, it was pretty special for me too. It brought back a lot of memories of some great wins he has had as a coach.”
In a team release posted after the win, Tigers owner and governor Darrell Maser said Desjardins has played a vital role in Tigers History.
“On behalf of the entire Medicine Hat Tigers organization, we’d like to congratulate Willie on winning his 400th game as head coach of the Tigers. It is a remarkable achievement for a man who has given everything he has into making the Tigers who we are today both on and off the ice.”
Desjardins thanked the Masers and the Medicine Hat Tigers fans for their support throughout his career behind the orange and black bench and said he’s looking forward to bringing success back to the Hat.
“We’ve had some tough times here lately and I’ve said, a lot of people are with you when you win, they’re not always there when you lose,” Desjardins said. “Darrell and Brent have been outstanding, with last year, that was a really tough year and it was hard for them. But they are behind us all the way, they’re always so positive when I talk to them.
“I’m really, really fortunate there and it’s the same with the fans, it’s an outstanding group and I want to get a championship back here for them, that’s my goal.”
