University of North Dakota men’s hockey coach leaves for NHL – Duluth News Tribune

Hakstol was introduced as Flyers head coach at news conference today in Philadelphia.

Brad Berry was set to be introduced as the next head coach at UND later Monday.

Berry has been an assistant on the UND staff, coaching defensemen and the power play. He played defense at UND and in the NHL.

“I want to thank Dave for the tremendous job he did in leading the men’s hockey program at North Dakota,” UND athletic director Brian Faison said of Hakstol. “While the numbers speak to his teams’ many successes on the ice, just as important is the impact he and his staff have had on the student-athletes who have played for him.”

Hakstol, appointed head coach at UND on July 9, 2004 after four seasons as an assistant coach to Dean Blais, amassed a 289-143-43 (.654) overall record in his 11 seasons behind the bench of his alma mater and leaves as the second-winningest coach in program history. The Warburg, Alberta, native led UND to the NCAA postseason in each of his 11 seasons, including seven appearances in the NCAA Frozen Four, most of any program in the country during that span.

“I have spent the better part of my professional life with the University of North Dakota hockey program and every day of it has been a privilege,” said Hakstol. “I’ve had the chance to work with and learn from some of the best people in hockey and I’m lucky to be able to call them my friends. I want to thank the staff, players and fans who have helped make this such a special place for our family.”

UND won three regular-season conference titles under Hakstol, capturing the MacNaughton Cup as Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) champion in 2008-09 and 2010-11 and the Penrose Cup as National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) champion in 2014-15. He also led UND to four Broadmoor Trophies as WCHA playoff champion in 2005-06, 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12.

Hakstol was named NCHC Herb Brooks Coach of the Year in 2014-15 and WCHA Coach of the Year in 2008-09 and was an eight-time finalist for the Spencer Penrose Award as national coach of the year.

Forty-six of Hakstol’s players at UND played professionally in 2014-15 and 20 reached the National Hockey League, including an NCHC-leading 16 this past season. Two of his former players, Matt Greene of the Los Angeles Kings and Jonathan Toews of the Chicago Blackhawks, have each won a pair of Stanley Cup championships. UND produced a total of 42 NHL draft picks during Hakstol’s tenure, including eight first-round picks.