Stunning news out of North Dakota on Monday morning, as coach Dave Hakstol resigned to become the head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers.
Hakstol coached UND for 11 years, going 289-143-43 (.654) with seven Frozen Four appearances. A national championship eluded him, however.
Hakstol makes the rare jump from college hockey to the NHL, something that was last done by Herb Brooks when he left St. Cloud State for the Minnesota North Stars, his second stint in the NHL.
According to the Grand Forks Herald, Hakstol will be replaced by UND assistant coach, Brad Berry, making for a smooth transition there and preventing a domino affect in other coaching ranks. Hakstol's departure is the first coaching change in D1 men's college hockey this offseason.
A couple of thoughts:
• Hakstol's move means that, in just two years, the head coaches of the two programs at the forefront of the formation of the NCHC, are no longer at those schools. George Gwozdecky was let go by Denver two years ago. Gwozdecky, by the way, is also in the NHL. He's an assistant with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
• Hakstol was hired by Flyers GM Ron Hextall, whose son, Brett, played for Hakstol at UND.
• A sneak peek at the column I'm writing for Tuesday's Freep ... This might be a good time for Minnesota State to hammer down the final details of a contract extension with Mike Hastings. With the success he's had in three seasons, his name will get thrown out for any college opening, as it was this morning by a few prominent people on Twitter. UPDATE: Here is a link to that column.
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