Arizona State University has placed head coach of the men’s hockey program Greg Powers on paid administrative leave as the school continues to investigate a workout that left a player in a coma.
Sophomore and St. Louis Blues prospect Matthew Mayich has been in a coma since the August 20 workout the team held, run by an ex-Army Green Beret.
On Thursday, ASU athletic director Graham Rossini announced that Powers — who has led the program since it debuted at the D-1 level for the 2015-16 season — had been placed on leave the previous day.
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“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.
Powers’ leave comes just days after seven members of the Sun Devil hockey program released a letter through an attorney that disputed certain findings of the school’s initial review into the incident.
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The 26-page letter sent to ASU President Michael Crow noted that the entire coaching staff — which was present at the workout — was, to that point, still with the program.
“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.”
Mayich remains in the hospital, with his family’s attorney, Robert Carey, saying that he has “zero chance of recovery.”
The 21-year-old 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.
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