What Happened
Arizona State announced Thursday that it has hired Dave Hakstol as its new men's hockey head coach. Hakstol, 58, joins the Sun Devils from the Colorado Avalanche, where he has been an assistant since last season. He takes over a program dealing with the fallout from defenceman Matthew Mayich's collapse during an Aug. 20 workout. According to The Athletic's Katie Strang, ASU reached a mutual agreement to part ways with Greg Powers, who was placed on administrative leave Sept. 30 and missed the team's opening weekend.
Key Details
- Hakstol spent 2015-2019 as head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers.
- He coached the Seattle Kraken from 2021 to 2024.
- He was an assistant with the Toronto Maple Leafs before joining Colorado.
- At North Dakota (2004-2015), he reached six Frozen Fours and won one national title.
- Powers was placed on administrative leave Sept. 30; assistant Alex Hicks was also absent from the opening weekend.
- Mayich's lawyer has said the player is unlikely to recover.
What It Means
Hakstol returns to the college game after more than a decade in the NHL, taking over an ASU program in the middle of a serious off-ice situation. His NHL head-coaching experience with Philadelphia and Seattle and his NCAA title at North Dakota give Arizona State a veteran bench boss as it navigates the aftermath of Mayich's collapse and the departure of Powers.
What's Next
Hakstol is expected to take over the Sun Devils' coaching duties. The program continues to deal with the fallout from the Aug. 20 workout and Mayich's condition, while Powers' mutual departure from ASU has been reported.