2 Minnesotans to serve as men’s Olympic hockey assistants in Beijing

Two Minnesotans will serve as assistant coaches for the U.S. Olympic Men’s Hockey Team in Beijing.

USA Hockey announced the entire staff on Thursday, including Mike Hastings and Brett Larson.

Hastings is in his 10th season as head coach of Minnesota State, Mankato’s men’s hockey team. It will be his first time as an Olympic assistant coach but he’s coached other U.S. teams during international competitions, including the silver medal-winning U.S. National Junior Team at the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship.

Larson, the fourth-year men’s hockey coach at St. Cloud State University, is also making his Olympic coaching debut. However, he’s previously coached other U.S. teams, including the U.S. National Junior Team in the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship.

The other assistants are Scott Young, David Lassonde and Alex Dawes. David Quinn will be the head coach of the U.S. Olympic Men’s Hockey Team.