Arizona State has put its men’s hockey coach on paid leave while investigators look into a workout that left a player in a coma. The university placed head coach Greg Powers on administrative leave on Wednesday, according to a statement from athletic director Graham Rossini.
The move follows a letter from seven members of the Sun Devil hockey program, who disputed certain findings of the school’s initial review into the August 20 incident. The letter, sent through an attorney, was addressed to ASU President Michael Crow and runs 26 pages.
The Workout That Put Mayich in a Coma
Matthew Mayich, a sophomore and St. Louis Blues prospect, has been in a coma since the workout. The team held the session on August 20, and it was run by an ex-Army Green Beret.
Mayich, 21, transferred to Arizona State after playing last season at Clarkson University. He was selected by the Blues in the sixth round of the 2023 NHL Draft.
His family’s attorney, Robert Carey, said that Mayich has “zero chance of recovery.” The coma began immediately after the August 20 session, and Mayich has not regained consciousness since.
Powers Placed on Leave
Rossini announced the decision on Thursday, confirming that Powers had been placed on leave the previous day. Powers has led the program since it debuted at the D-1 level for the 2015-16 season.
“Our focus continues to be on Matthew and his family, and on our student-athletes to make sure they have the support they need during this time and as the season begins,” Rossini said in a statement. “We have continued to collect as much information as possible. After thorough and careful deliberation, I believe this is the best move to provide stability for the hockey program.”
Assistant coach Mike Corbett will be behind the bench when the Sun Devils open their season on the road against Lindenwood University. An interim head coach will be named at a later date.
The Letter From Seven Players
The 26-page letter sent to ASU President Michael Crow noted that the entire coaching staff — which was present at the workout — was still with the program at the time of writing.
“The head coach and his assistant coaches were all on the field on August 20, all remain in their positions, and together they decide our playing time, scholarship levels, and roster status,” the letter reads, per The Athletic. “No one has separated us from them since that morning.
“We should not have to choose between telling the truth about August 20 and keeping what we have worked our whole lives for.”
The letter disputes certain findings of the school’s initial review into the incident. The seven players who signed it have now publicly questioned the official account of what happened on that August morning.
What the Letter Actually Says
The letter raises questions about who was involved in the decision-making around the workout. The players write that the coaching staff — all of whom were on the field on August 20 — remains in place, and that the staff collectively determines playing time, scholarship levels, and roster status.
The players also note that no one has separated them from the coaching staff since that morning. They argue that they should not have to choose between telling the truth about what happened on August 20 and preserving their careers.
The Coaching Staff’s Role
The letter’s central claim is that the coaching staff was present at the workout and has remained in their positions since. The players describe the staff as a collective that determines playing time, scholarship levels, and roster status.
What Happens Next
The investigation is ongoing. Rossini said the school has continued to collect information, and the decision to place Powers on leave was made after “thorough and careful deliberation.”
Corbett will lead the team for the opener against Lindenwood. The school has not yet named an interim head coach.
The school’s statement emphasizes support for both Matthew and his family and for the student-athletes. Rossini said the focus is on providing stability for the hockey program.
“We have continued to collect as much information as possible. After thorough and careful deliberation, I believe this is the best move to provide stability for the hockey program.”
The decision to place Powers on leave is a measured response to a difficult situation.
Key Facts to Remember
- Matthew Mayich, a sophomore and Blues prospect, remains in a coma after the August 20 workout.
- The workout was run by an ex-Army Green Beret.
- Seven players released a letter disputing certain findings of the school’s initial review.
- Powers has been placed on paid administrative leave.
- Assistant coach Mike Corbett will lead the team for the opener.
- An interim head coach will be named at a later date.
The situation remains fluid. The school has not yet named an interim head coach, and the investigation is ongoing. The players who spoke out have raised serious questions about the workout and the circumstances surrounding it.
Source material: “Arizona State hockey coach placed on paid leave as investigation into tragic workout continues,” Fox News.
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