Dave Hakstol

Dave Hakstol (born July 30, 1968) is the current head coach for the Philadelphia Flyers of the NHL. A native of Warburg, Alberta, Canada; Hakstol previously was head coach of the University of North Dakota men's ice hockey team for 11 seasons. A former player himself, Hakstol played for the Fighting Sioux from 1989 to 1992 and in the International Hockey League for five years before becoming a coach.

Career

Dave Hakstol attended the University of North Dakota and played hockey there from 1989 to 1992. He went on to play minor league hockey for 5 years, including stints with the Indianapolis Ice and Minnesota Moose. After retiring as a player, he moved to the coaching ranks with the Sioux City Musketeers. Replacing a fired head coach in the middle of their disappointing 1996–97, he turned the team around and remained for 4 years. He became an assistant coach with his alma mater North Dakota Fighting Sioux in 2000. In 2004 he was named head coach. In his tenure as North Dakota's head coach, he led the team to the NCAA Frozen Four seven times. Hakstol was honored with conference coach of the year awards in 2009 and 2015, and was an 8-time finalist for national coach of the year.