Mike Hastings cherishes ‘special opportunity’ at Wisconsin

MADISON, Wis. – It was a little bit of an unconventional introduction to those that want him nothing however success, however when new Wisconsin Badgers males’s hockey coach Mike Hastings met the followers and his future gamers on the ice on the Kohl Heart, he grinned and admitted his ties to a sort of hockey underworld.

Interviewed by Badgers radio voice Brian Posick after his formal introduction, to the strains of the Badger band taking part in “On Wisconsin,” Hastings admitted that his three biggest teaching mentors – Don Lucia, Bob Motzko and Dean Blais – are all former coaches or gamers for the Minnesota Gophers, and are collectively playfully often called the “Minnesota Mafia.”

“They’ve at all times been there, and once I’ve wanted them, they’ve answered the cellphone, which I’ve needed to do typically,” Hastings mentioned. “I’m grateful to have the relationships I’ve had with these guys, as a result of they’ve put me in a great spot.”

Posick was fast to remind Hastings that, because the Badgers coach, one of many job expectations as soon as the puck drops subsequent season can be to beat Motzko and the Gophers.

“We’ve executed that a few occasions, however we have to do it just a little extra,” Hastings mentioned, with a smile.

If there may be one factor that Hastings brings to the Wisconsin job after a decade behind the bench at Minnesota State Mankato, it could be a mastery over Motzko, at the very least not too long ago. Hastings’ Mavericks had been 5-1-0 versus Motzko’s Gophers over the previous 5 years, together with wins within the Loveland Regional finale in 2021 and a Frozen 4 semifinal win final season in Boston.

And simply because it was for Motzko 5 years in the past when he left St. Cloud State – the place Motzko and Hastings had been teammates within the Eighties – for the Gophers, there have been queries raised about why Hastings would depart the seemingly comfy spot at MSU for a Large Ten program that had simply two successful seasons prior to now seven years.

“Folks have requested, ‘Why Wisconsin?’ And I’ve mentioned, ‘As a result of it’s Wisconsin,’” Hastings mentioned. He recalled his childhood and teenage years in Crookston, Minn., making the 30-minute journey to Grand Forks to observe school hockey, and a crew in crimson that’s nonetheless caught in his recollections.

“I used to be sitting at outdated Ralph Engelstad Enviornment … and watching the Wisconsin band personal Engelstad Enviornment and play the combat tune and play what Wisconsin’s all about, which is particular,” he mentioned.

When it turned clear that Hastings was the one who could be changing Tony Granato, who was fired final month, the cellphone began to explode. And the primary voice on the opposite finish of the road was a shock – Tony’s brother, who coaches the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres.

“One of many first cellphone calls I had was from Donnie Granato. I had a possibility to work with Donnie throughout the (2022) Olympics,” Hastings mentioned. “He referred to as and mentioned, ‘Hasty, I do know you may’t get again to me proper now, however welcome to the Badger household.’”

He takes over a Badgers crew that – after successful the Large Ten and going to the NCAA event in 2021 – completed sixth within the seven-team convention final season and seventh this season, bowing out to Michigan within the first spherical of the convention event. Hastings acknowledged the problem and the chance of the job which can pay him $700,000 per yr – double what he was making in Mankato. And he mentioned he doesn’t count on all the Badgers’ wins to return on the ice.

“Sure, we need to grasp banners on this constructing, however what we actually need to do, most significantly, is proceed to supply younger individuals that may fly the Badger flag,” he mentioned. “Whether or not they’re carrying a hockey jersey, out locally, supporting the individuals after they want help. I’m proud to be the subsequent head coach of this program. It’s a particular alternative and I need you to know I’m going to cherish it on daily basis.”

Jess Myers covers school hockey, in addition to outside, basic sports activities and journey, for The Rink Dwell and the Discussion board Communications household of publications. He got here to FCC in 2018 after three many years of masking sports activities as a freelancer for a wide range of publications, whereas working full time in politics and media relations. A local of Warroad, Minn. (the actual Hockeytown USA), Myers has a level in journalism/communications from the College of Minnesota Duluth. He lives within the Twin Cities. Contact Jess through e mail at jrmyers@forumcomm.com, or discover him on Twitter through @JessRMyers. English speaker.