Dave Hakstol expected to take over Arizona State hockey program

When the Arizona State Sun Devils visit the National Hockey Center in St. Cloud on Halloween weekend, long-time St. Cloud State fans can expect to see a familiar foe behind the visitors bench.Multiple reports on Monday have former North Dakota coach Dave Hakstol leaving his current assistant coaching position with the Colorado Avalanche to take over the Sun Devils program, which has fallen into disarray following the tragic near-death of a player in August during a team workout.The Avalanche confirmed on Monday that Hakstol has been given permission to speak to the school, and other candidates for the position have reportedly been informed that ASU has made its choice.Hakstol, 58, has been a NHL head coach with Philadelphia and Seattle, and coached North Dakota — where he played defense for three years in the early 1990s — for 11 seasons, which included seven trips to the NCAA Frozen Four.“We’ve talked throughout the years. I have a lot of respect for him,” said Wild coach John Hynes, who matched wits with Hakstol in the USHL and when both were rookie NHL coaches in the 2015-16 season. “He’s an extremely hard worker, very bright. I think he’s going to do amazing things because he’s a great leader.”Arizona State, which a decade ago became the first big-name southern school to sponsor Division I hockey in the modern era, placed former head coach Greg Powers on leave two weeks ago. The move came after Sun Devils defenseman Matthew Mayich collapsed during what was termed a “military style workout” on the first day of the team’s training camp in August.Hospitalized due to heat stroke and oxygen loss, Mayich has not regained consciousness and attorneys for his family who are suing the school have said that the defenseman, a draft pick of the St. Louis Blues, is not expected to recover.Powers, who played club hockey at ASU and coached the team to a national championship during their final season as a club program, is the only coach the Sun Devils have had in their 11 seasons at the Division I level. He coached them to a NCAA tournament appearance in 2019 and helped spearhead the construction of Mullett Arena, the 5,000-seat on-campus rink that houses the desert’s only top-level college hockey program.The coach was not present at the workout which proved tragic for Mayich, but has drawn fire of the aftermath, which included allegations that Powers offered conflicting information about the length and intensity of of the workout, and that the coach disposed of his cell phone a short time later, making an investigation of the incident more challenging.Hakstol, who is originally from Alberta, played a few years of pro hockey following college, and ended his on-ice career in 1996 with the minor league Minnesota Moose in St. Paul.“I think he’s going to step into the program and provide some great leadership, on and off the ice,” Hynes said.The Sun Devils are entering their third season as members of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference, which is home to St. Thomas, St. Cloud State, Minnesota Duluth and North Dakota, along with defending national champion Denver.Related Articles Women’s college volleyball: Gophers sweep Buckeyes Women’s college hockey: Gophers best Beavers The thrill is gone: Gophers’ buzz zapped in 41-13 loss at Purdue How running back Fame Ijeboi left Minnesota for Purdue College football: Tommies bounce back, pound Stetson