Sioux Falls Stampede

Gasparini, the son of former University of North Dakota head hockey coach and USHL commissioner Gino Gasparini, was an assistant coach under Bob Motzko for the Herd’s first two seasons (1999-2001) before taking over as General Manager and Head Coach in 2001. At just 25-years-old, Gasparini was one of the youngest to ever hold those positions.

Following his time with the Herd, Gasparini went to Division I Union College where he helped head coach Nate Leaman and his staff build the Dutchmen into an eventual NCAA Tournament team.

In 2005, Gasparini was hired as an amateur scout with the Los Angeles Kings of the NHL, a position he has held for the nearly 18 years. His role with the Kings began with evaluating potential draft prospects in the United States and quickly grew and was elevated to watching and evaluating potential draft eligible players all over the world. He was also responsible for evaluating and signing NCAA free agents.

Gasparini played a key role in forming the 2012 and 2014 L.A. Kings Stanley Cup champion teams through the draft and free agency. In 2014, he became the first ever North Dakota native to have his name engraved on the Stanley Cup. Most recently, Gasparini has played a vital role within the Kings organization in a team rebuild that has resulted in one of the deepest talent pool of prospects in the NHL. During his final season with the team, the Kings posted 44 wins and a third-place finish in the competitive Pacific Division before falling in seven games to the Edmonton Oilers in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

In addition to his time with the Kings, Gasparini has been very active with USA Hockey on numerous fronts, including to being named the Assistant GM of the USA Hockey Hlinka Gretzky Cup staff for the USA U-18 squad that competes each August. He has also been involved with the USA World Junior A Team Staff for 12 years which included 8 Gold, 1 Silver and 3 Bronze medals.

Over his first two seasons with the Stampede, the organization has had 9 NHL drafts picks wear the Stampede Jersey during his tenure and for the first time since the 1999-200 season the 2023-24 Stampede qualified for the USHL Clark Cup Playoffs.

Gasparini and his wife, Krista, have three children: Mario, Gianna and Sergio. Mario is currently a sophomore defenseman at the University of Vermont. Gianna plays forward for Gustavus Adolphus College of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, a Division III NCAA program, and is in her junior season with the Gusties. The youngest of the three, Sergio (Grade 12) is a national competitor in gymnastics.