Minnesota State Mankato Men’s Hockey coach, Mike Hastings (a Crookston High School graduate) has been named one of eight finalists for the 2022 Spencer Penrose Award, the American Hockey Coaches Association announced Tuesday. Minnesota State Mankato will play in the NCAA Frozen Four on Thursday, April 7.
The Spencer Penrose Award is presented annually to the CCM/AHCA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Coach of the Year. 
The 2015 and 2021 Penrose Award winner, Hastings has led the Mavericks to five consecutive MacNaughton Cup championships and the school’s second NCAA Frozen Four appearance this season. Minnesota State rolled to the Central Collegiate Hockey Association regular-season title with a 23-3-0 mark in league play, went undefeated in CCHA postseason tournament action to win the league’s Mason Cup as league playoff champions, and most recently, won the NCAA Albany Region with wins over Harvard and Notre Dame.
The Mavericks, who stand 37-5-0 for the season and have won their last 17 games in a row, play in the Frozen Four in semifinal action against Minnesota on April 7.
Under Hasting’s tutelage, the Mavericks have posted a 273-89-24 mark during his ten seasons behind the bench in Mankato, the top record in college hockey during that span.
MSU has captured seven league regular-season titles, four league postseason championships, and posted ten 20-win seasons during his tenure. Hastings earned his fifth conference coach of the year award earlier this season.
Joining Hastings on the finalist list are North Dakota’s Brad Berry, Denver’s David Carle, Quinnipiac’s Rand Pecknold, Northeastern’s Jerry Keefe, AIC’s Eric Lang, Minnesota’s Bob Motzko, and Michigan’s Mel Pearson.
The 2022 Spencer Penrose Award winner will be announced April 20th.
