The Stanley Cup ring that Sudbury Wolves’ assistant coach Andrew Desjardins might display from time to time (Chicago Blackhawks – 2014-2015) can serve as a wonderful reminder to the young men under his stewardship of just what might come to be.
Yet it is the road that the now 40 year-old native of Lively travelled, the man for whom hockey was/is his life, who followed up a seven year 400+ game NHL career with another seven seasons of pro hockey in Germany and Austria - that is honestly where the focus of current local OHLers should be steered.
The value of his story alone, the third to last player selected in the 2002 OHL draft (15th round - #296 overall), can provide unbelievable service to these aspiring prospects. Of the 295 young men selected before Desjardins that spring, only five would eventually play more NHL games than the ultimate longshot: Benoit Pouliot (11th rd – 625); Jared Boll (6th rd – 579); Tyler Kennedy (1st rd – 527); Wojtek Wolski (1st rd – 451 games); Dave Bolland (1st rd – 433).
“I would like to think it can give guys hope, using my experience specifically,” said Desjardins, now entering his third year behind the Sudbury bench alongside Scott Barney and Drake Berehowsky. “Just because you weren’t drafted in the NHL or drafted in the OHL or you’re not on the power play or getting what you want, doesn’t mean you can’t find other ways to stand out.”
“I think that was my strength as a player.”
Generally speaking, ex-players who become hockey coaches tend to draw largely on a pair of sources of influence as they meander their way into a world that they have known, up to that point, only from a completely different perspective. Coaches will constantly make note of mentors of the game that they enjoyed playing for, pulling from their repertoire, as well as whatever specific aspects of hockey they were likely most well-known for as players.
Andrew Desjardins can shine on both counts.
With 28 years of NHL coaching experience on his resume and three Stanley Cups to his credit, Joel Quenneville earns mention alongside a very small handful of current coaches in terms of their excellence at their craft. Desjardins enjoyed two and a half years under his watch, absorbing a great deal long before he even considered following in his footsteps.
“He’s just an amazing coach,” said Desjardins. “He doesn’t need to do much to have that presence. He’s honest – and you can see the respect people have for him.”
The down to earth northern product is still cutting his teeth in this new realm, setting aside the intensity and energized emotion that served him so well on the ice for a bit of a different demeanour behind the bench. “You definitely have to control your emotions, as a coach,” he said.
“Going too far, one way or the other, will definitely sway the kids. This is my third year and you never stop learning – but there are definitely times where I crossed that line.”
And learned: just as he did at every level of hockey, as a player.
Andrew Desjardins began his pro hockey career with the Laredo Bucks of the Central Hockey League (CHL), an undrafted forward who would put up 59 points in 64 games that year – along with 112 penalty minutes. That said, almost no one who starts in the CHL advances through the ranks (ECHL, AHL) to the NHL.
“I think the X’s and O’s is probably my strength (as a coach), just because of the detail that I had to approach the game with,” said Desjardins. “Well maybe not X’s and O’s from a strategy standpoint, but the detailed fundamentals, things like stick placement, body position, learning to read your opponent’s feet and eyes.”
“Those can be hard things to teach, some time, but those habits, those details were my strength.”
Lastly, there is the personality aspect, an area where the affable Desjardins also scores well.
Humble, talkative and approachable, the father of two began to realize his potential calling in his final few years in Europe as a player. “Every day at practice, we had 16 to 18 year olds, guys that would come up from the junior team,” he said. “That influenced me a lot.”
In more intimate settings, he is in his element.
“It’s funny because people will say I like talking a lot, but one of my weaknesses is probably the communication part in front of groups,” said Desjardins. “That’s not my strong suit.”
“One on one, there is no issue.”
Wolves players take note: when Andrew Desjardins is talking to you, one on one, you just might want to listen, very carefully. His knowledge, his story, can prove quite valuable.
