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Willie Desjardins out as coach of the Canucks

9 years ago in Local Sports

Vancouver Canucks head coach Willie Desjardins yells from the bench during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Dallas Stars, Thursday, Oct. 29, 2015, in Dallas. Photo: Associated Press/ (AP Photo/LM Otero)

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — The Vancouver Canucks have fired coach Willie Desjardins after missing the postseason for the second consecutive season.

The team announced the move Monday, a day after ending the season with its eighth straight loss.

Assistant coaches Doug Lidster and Perry Pearn were also let go.

Vancouver Canucks coach Willie Desjardins, rear, talks with referee Frederick L’Ecuyer (17) as Loui Eriksson (21) listens in during the second period of the team’s NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2017. The Penguins won 4-0. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

In three seasons with Vancouver, Desjardins went 109-110-27. The 60-year-old led the club to the playoffs as a rookie NHL head coach in 2014-15, but the rebuilding Canucks took a big step backward last season and then finished 29th out of 30 teams in the NHL standings this season.

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