Arizona State is in talks with Colorado Avalanche assistant Dave Hakstol to become the next head coach of its men's hockey program. The Avalanche have granted Hakstol permission to speak with ASU about joining its staff, and discussions are ongoing. The school is expected to make a decision on its next hire sometime this week.
Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said Monday that the team supports the talks. "We've granted him permission to talk [to ASU]," Bednar said. "That's kind of all I know right now. [GM] Joe [Sakic] thinks it's important, and we think it's important that we do that. Let him feel it out, and we'll go from there."
The search follows a difficult stretch for the program. ASU placed former coach Greg Powers on administrative leave late last month after defenseman Matthew Mayich, 21, collapsed from severe heat stroke during an early-morning outdoor workout on Aug. 20 at Sun Angel Stadium. Mayich has been hospitalized since the workout and is unlikely to recover, according to his family's attorney. An internal ASU review found the program did not submit a training plan for review before the session, which took place in nearly 90-degree temperatures.
Hakstol brings a long record of success at the collegiate level. He spent 11 years as head coach at North Dakota, compiling a 289-143-43 record and guiding the program to 11 consecutive NCAA tournament appearances. He later coached the Philadelphia Flyers from 2015 to 2018 and the Seattle club from 2021 to 2024 before joining Colorado in 2025. He was on the ice with the Avalanche for practice Monday while talks with ASU continued.
Source: ESPN General · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing