Thursday morning, ASU named Dave Hakstol its hockey head coach; the team announced in a press release.
After the collapse of Matthew Mayich sent ASU hockey into turmoil, the University placed head coach Greg Powers on paid administrative leave — days before the season began.
READ MORE: The latest on ASU hockey, Matthew Mayich. What has happened since Aug. 20
In addition to placing Powers on paid administrative leave, ASU brought in former Supreme Court of Arizona Chief Justice Scott Bales to lead a further review of the situation.
The University announced Bales would review and make recommendations relating to planning and approving outdoor athletic activities, the use of outside consultants, procedures for outdoor athletic activities and preparation for and response to "adverse events" that happen during outdoor athletic activities.
On the ice, assistant coach Mike Corbett took over team duties for the season and home opening games, where the Sun Devils went 2-2 after two splits against Lindenwood and Holy Cross.
For ASU's second series of the season, associate coach Alex Hicks was also not with the team, according to Brad Elliott Schlossman of the Grand Forks Herald. His absence marked two members of the original coaching staff as absent from the home opener.
Now, ASU has its new long-term coach for the for the future.
ASU also announced that the team is bringing in former Stanley Cup champion Matt Greene, who played under Hakstol at North Dakota, as an assistant coach.
With Hakstol in, Chris Karpman of Sun Devil Source also reported that ASU reached an agreement with Powers to part ways, including a statement from Powers.
"A new chapter of Sun Devil Hockey now awaits," part of the statement reads. "It is my hope that everyone will continue to support Sun Devil Hockey with the same passion and vigor that we all have to this point. I also wish Success, and pledge unwavering support to the new staff that has been chosen to push the rock forward to new heights."
After ASU parted ways with Powers, Robert Carey, the attorney for Mayich's family, also released a statement.
"It seems more like a negotiated agreement than accountability, and so we believe Justice Bales's investigation must 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," Carey's statement said. "Coach Powers's departure should not limit his cooperation or anyone else's, and the players who have spoken up must be protected. We wish Coach Hakstol, his staff, and the players a safe and successful season."
After spending 2000-04 in assistant and associate coaching positions at North Dakota — his alma mater, Hakstol took the head coaching job for the Fighting Hawks, leading the team from 2004-15.
Hakstol brought North Dakota to the NCAA Tournament during each season of his tenure, making seven Frozen Four appearances.
After his time at North Dakota, Hakstol took the head coaching job for the Philadelphia Flyers, where he stayed until 2018. He then joined the coaching staff of the Toronto Maple Leafs before becoming the first head coach for the Seattle Kraken in 2021.
Hakstol has been a member of the assistant coaching staff of the Colorado Avalanche since 2025, after being fired by Seattle, and now takes over for the Sun Devils.
The news of Hakstol's hiring comes just one day before ASU faces UMass-Lowell for its third series of the season.
Edited by Char O'Neil, Alan Deutschendorf III and Senna James.
Reach the reporter at aswift10@asu.edu and follow @alexswiftsports on X.
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Alex Swift is a sports editor at The State Press. He is also a digital reporter for Cronkite News and co-host on the Blaze Radio show "Park The Bus". He is in his third semester with The State Press, previously working as both a part-time and full-time sports reporter.
