COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Mike Hastings (Crookston, Minn./Minnesota State), head coach of the Minnesota State University Mankato men’s ice hockey team, will replace David Quinn (Cranston, R.I./New York Rangers) as head coach of the 2019 U.S. National Junior Team, it was announced today by USA Hockey. The U.S. National Junior Team will take part in the 2019 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship Dec. 26, 2018 – Jan. 5, 2019, in Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia.
Quinn, the former Boston University head coach, stepped down from the position after accepting the head coaching job of the NHL’s New York Rangers. Hastings was originally named to the U.S. staff as an assistant on April 20 along with David Lassonde (Durham, N.H./Dartmouth College) and Steve Miller (Columbus, Ohio/Ohio State University). Scott Sandelin (Hibbing, Minn./University of Minnesota Duluth), head coach of the University of Minnesota Duluth men’s ice hockey team, has been named assistant coach in Hastings’ place.
“Mike was the obvious choice in taking over as head coach of our national junior team,” said John Vanbiesbrouck, assistant executive director of hockey operations for USA Hockey and general manager of the 2019 U.S. National Junior Team. “While we wish David Quinn all the best in his return to the NHL, it speaks volumes to our American depth in the coaching ranks that not only can someone of Mike’s stature fill this position, but we can add an individual with Scott’s resume, as well.”
Hastings will be behind a U.S. bench for the fifth time and his first as head coach of a U.S. team in an IIHF event.
“It’s always an honor to represent your country and I’m thrilled to be asked to do so as head coach of this year’s U.S. National Junior Team,” said Hastings. “Our first few weeks as a staff have already been terrific thanks in large part to David’s leadership and we couldn’t be happier to have Scott join in the evaluation process. The talent depth is better than it’s ever been and we fully believe we can build a roster more than capable of claiming a fourth-straight medal in this tournament.”
An assistant coach on the 2005 U.S. National Junior Team, Hastings filled the same role on the 2003 U.S. National Junior Team and twice served as head coach for the U.S. Junior Select Team, helping the team win the 2000 Viking Cup.
In six seasons with Minnesota State, Hastings has led the Mavericks to more wins than any other team in the nation behind a 151-72-19 record, while also guiding the Mavericks a trio of WCHA regular-season championships, two WCHA post-season tournament titles and four NCAA tournament appearances. He earned the Spencer Penrose Award as the top coach in college hockey in 2015 and is a two-time WCHA Coach of the Year.
Hastings arrived at Minnesota State following a three-year stint (2009-12) as the associate head coach at the University of Nebraska-Omaha. He also served as an assistant coach with the men’s hockey program at the University of Minnesota (2008-09) for one season after a 14-year run (1994-2008) as head coach and general manager of the United States Hockey League’s Omaha Lancers.
During his time in Omaha, the Lancers never had a losing season as he helped the team capture six league championships, including three Anderson Cups (2001-02, 2004-05 (shared), 2007-08) as the league’s regular-season champion and a trio of Clark Cup titles (1998, 2001, 2008) as the USHL’s playoff champion. Hastings, who left the USHL as the league’s all-time winningest coach with a 529-210-56 (W-L-T) record, was named USHL Coach of the Year twice (1997, 2002) and league General Manager of the Year on five occasions (1997, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2008).
SANDELIN JOINS LASSONDE, MILLER AS TEAM USA ASSISTANT COACHES
USA Hockey also today announced that Scott Sandelin, head coach of the University of Minnesota Duluth men’s ice hockey team, will serve as an assistant coach for Team USA.
This is the third time Sandelin will represent a U.S. National Junior Team. In 2005, he served as head coach for the U.S. entry that finished fourth at the IIHF World Junior Championship in Grand Forks, North Dakota, and Thief River Falls, Minn., before being tabbed an assistant coach for the 2012 U.S. National Junior Team at the IIHF World Junior Championship in Calgary and Edmonton, Alberta.
The 2018-19 season will mark Sandelin’s program-record 19th campaign behind the Bulldog bench. This past season, Sandelin led Minnesota Duluth to its second NCAA National Championship in program history after guiding UMD to its first-ever title in 2011. The 2004 Spencer Penrose Award recipient, Sandelin has helped the Bulldogs claim two conference tournament titles (2009 WCHA, 2017 NCHC) while his 17-6 (W-L) record and .739 win percentage in NCAA Tournament play is the best of any active bench boss. Prior to joining Minnesota Duluth, Sandelin spent six seasons with the University of North Dakota where he helped UND claim two NCAA titles (1997, 2000), three WCHA regular-season championships (1996-99) and two WCHA playoff crowns (1997, 2000).
NOTES: The United States enters the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship having medaled in three-straight World Junior Championships for the first time in U.S. history after earning gold in 2017 and bronze in 2018 and 2016 … The U.S. has won three gold medals this decade in the IIHF World Junior Championship, the most of any nation … To date, the U.S. National Junior Team has claimed 11 medals, including four gold medals (2017, 2013, 2010, 2004), one silver medal (1997) and six bronze medals (2018, 2016, 2011, 2007, 1992, 1986) … For more information on the U.S. National Junior Team, click here … USA Hockey’s international council, chaired by Gavin Regan (Potsdam, N.Y.), vice president of USA Hockey, has oversight responsibilities for all U.S. national teams … NHL Network is the exclusive U.S. home of the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship.
