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The Arizona State Sun Devils have appointed Dave Hakstol as the new head coach of their men's hockey team, according to an announcement made Thursday by athletics director Graham Rossini. The statement notably did not acknowledge Greg Powers, who was placed on paid administrative leave on September 30 while investigations continue into an August practice incident that resulted in defenseman Matthew Mayich collapsing.
Mayich is still in the hospital and on life support, as reported by People on October 12. The incident occurred during an outdoor team workout on August 20, when Mayich, a St. Louis Blues prospect, collapsed while participating in a military-style training session led by former Green Beret Timothy Ziesel in temperatures near 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
Hakstol brings a wealth of experience to the role, having previously served as head coach for the Philadelphia Flyers from 2015 to 2018 and the Seattle Kraken from 2021 to 2024. Most recently, he was an assistant coach with the Colorado Avalanche, a position he took in July 2025. His collegiate coaching career includes 11 seasons at the University of North Dakota, where he guided the program to seven NCAA Frozen Four appearances.
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In a statement released by the university, Hakstol expressed enthusiasm about the opportunity: "This is a special opportunity, and I couldn't be more excited to return to college hockey and bring a winning culture to Arizona State Sun Devil Hockey. Our goal is to grow a championship-caliber program, and we will." Rossini praised Hakstol's track record, saying, "We welcome Dave Hakstol and his family to Arizona State University. His success building championship-caliber programs, developing players for the highest level of the sport, and leading organizations in the NHL speaks to his knowledge of the game and his ability to develop talent. We appreciate Dave's belief in ASU and look forward to supporting him as we continue to build Sun Devil Hockey into one of the nation's premier programs."
Meanwhile, the circumstances surrounding Mayich's collapse remain under investigation. According to the university's initial review, the hockey staff had sought permission for Ziesel to address the team but failed to submit a training plan for approval by ASU's strength and conditioning coaches. Seven players subsequently disputed the university's account in a letter, demanding that the coaching staff be placed on leave and alleging that safety protocols were not followed during the workout. The initial review did not assign final responsibility, and the matter is still being examined as the program transitions to new leadership under Hakstol. Assistant coach Mike Corbett had been leading the team in Powers' absence.
Originally reported by yahoo.