Hockey

Willie Desjardins, Canucks coach, to miss camp after hip surgery

Vancouver Canucks head coach Willie Desjardins will miss the team's training camp after undergoing hip surgery, but will be ready for the Oct. 7 season opener in Calgary.

2nd-year bench boss to be ready for season opener

Canucks head coach Willie Desjardins will miss training camp following hip surgery but will return to the bench for Vancouver's Oct. 7 season opener at Calgary. Travis Green, head coach of the AHL's Utica Comets, will handle the Young Stars tourney for Vancouver while Canucks assistants Doug Lidster, Glen Gulutzan and Perry Pearn will take care of camp and some pre-season coaching duties. (Darryl Dyck/Canadian Press/File)

Vancouver Canucks head coach Willie Desjardins will miss the team's training camp after undergoing hip surgery, but will be ready for the Oct. 7 season opener at Calgary.

The Canucks said Desjardins had the operation Tuesday to treat "an acute flare up of his pre-existing hip condition."

"Willie has been dealing with the chronic discomfort for a long time and our medical staff has been monitoring it since he joined us last year," Canucks general manager Jim Benning said in a statement released by the team. "Unfortunately, his hip deteriorated rapidly in recent weeks and it required immediate attention."

Desjardins will also miss the 2015 Young Stars tournament in Penticton, B.C., later this week.

Travis Green, head coach of the AHL's Utica Comets, will handle the Young Stars event while Canucks assistants Doug Lidster, Glen Gulutzan and Perry Pearn will take care of camp and some pre-season coaching duties.

With files from CBCSports.ca