Arizona State just hired former Seattle Kraken head coach Dave Hakstol to lead its hockey program, but holy smokes, the move comes amidst a school investigation into a horrific outdoor workout that left a 21-year-old player on life support.
Our Former Kraken Boss Is Back in the Driver’s Seat
So yeah, Dave Hakstol is taking over as head coach for the Sun Devils, leaving his assistant coach gig with the Colorado Avalanche. Our guy was just in his second season as an assistant to Jared Bednar, even leading their power play. But the opportunity to lead a program, especially one in such a tough spot, must have been too much to pass up for the 58-year-old veteran coach.
Hakstol, as many of us remember, was the very first head coach for our Kraken, leading them from their inaugural season in 2021 right up through 2024. Before that, he was behind the bench for the Philadelphia Flyers from 2015 to 2018. The dude’s got serious experience. Arizona State athletic director Graham Rossini gave him a pretty glowing welcome, saying Hakstol’s 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.” Rossini even said they appreciate Hakstol’s belief in ASU as they “continue to build Sun Devil Hockey into one of the nation’s premier programs.” Sounds like they think he’s the guy to turn things around, talent-wise, at least.
And let’s not forget his college roots. Hakstol was the head coach at North Dakota for 11 seasons, his alma mater, and he took them to the Frozen Four seven times. He also had two stints as an assistant for the Toronto Maple Leafs and was the head coach of the Sioux City Musketeers in the United States Hockey League from 1996-2000. The resume is stacked.
The Unspeakable Reason Hakstol Is There
But let’s be real, this isn’t just about a coaching change. The backdrop for Hakstol’s arrival is absolutely devastating. The previous coach, Greg Powers, has “mutually agreed to leave his position” after being placed on administrative leave last month. Why? Because the school is investigating an outdoor workout from back on August 20 that tragically left 21-year-old Matthew Mayich on life support. The facts are brutal: he’s unlikely to recover from external heat stroke that reduced the flow of oxygen to his brain.
Matthew Mayich’s family attorney, Rob Carey, has been very clear about their focus: “making sure what happened to him is fully understood and never happens to another player.” Carey isn’t pulling any punches, saying Powers’ departure “seems more like a negotiated agreement than accountability.” He’s demanding that former Arizona State Supreme Court chief justice Scott Bales, who is leading an independent review, continue with its “full scope, gathering all digital evidence and covering everyone involved in that morning’s workout and in approving it, and its findings must be made public.” The family also emphasized that Powers’ departure shouldn’t limit his cooperation, or anyone else’s, and that “the players who have spoken up must be protected.” This is a heavy, heavy situation, and the investigation is crucial, with a completion request by early December.
Picking Up the Pieces in Tempe
So, Hakstol is stepping into a program reeling from a player’s collapse and a full-blown independent investigation. It’s a massive challenge, to put it mildly. While the Avalanche have already hired Brett McLean to replace Hakstol as an assistant on Jared Bednar’s staff, our former Kraken coach has a whole different kind of rebuilding ahead of him.
The Mayich family attorney wished Coach Hakstol, his staff, and the players a “safe and successful season,” and honestly, that’s what everyone has to hope for now. This isn’t just about winning games; it’s about healing a program and ensuring player safety is paramount. We’ll definitely be keeping an eye on how this all unfolds, especially with the independent review findings expected soon. What a wild chapter for a coach many of us in the Emerald City remember so well.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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