Vancouver Canucks head coach Willie Desjardins shouts instructions at his team, as they trailed the Calgary Flames by one during the last minutes of the third period at the Saddledome in Calgary, on February 14, 2015. (Crystal Schick | Calgary Herald)

Hockey guru Desjardins latest inductee into Canada West Hall of Fame

Former University of Calgary Dinos men's hockey coach Willie Desjardins (BEd'85) has enjoyed success at nearly every level of the sport.

By Calgary Herald

As a player at the University of Saskatchewan, Desjardins (BEd'85) won plenty of titles. Now as a coach at the game's highest levels, Desjardins has done the same, as reported by the Calgary Herald.

The Climax, Sask., native was announced Friday as the latest Canada West Hall of Fame inductee.

Desjardins captained the Huskies to their first national championship in 1983, winning tournament MVP as the Dogs hoisted the University Cup. He was a member of three consecutive Canada West championship teams from 1981-83. That dynasty was inducted into the CW Hall of Fame back in October.

A four-time Canada West All-star, Desjardins was the conference's MVP during the 1982-83 season.

After graduation in 1985, Desjardins joined the University of Calgary's men's hockey staff as an assistant coach, before taking over the program in 1988-89 and helming it for six seasons. With Desjardins as head coach, the Dinos had a 113-44-11 record in conference games and won the Canada West title in 1990.

From there, Desjardins began a remarkable coaching journey that has spanned the globe, with tenures in the National Hockey League, the American Hockey League, the Western Hockey League, professional teams in Japan and the Canadian national program.

Read more at https://calgaryherald.com/.