Arizona State men's hockey coach Greg Powers has left the program, the university announced Thursday, after being placed on administrative leave following the collapse of defenseman Matthew Mayich during an early morning outdoor workout on Aug. 20. In a statement provided by the university, Powers said he had "mutually agreed to leave" his position and continues "to hope for strength and healing for Matthew and his family."
Mayich, 21, has been in the hospital since the workout and is unlikely to recover, according to his family's attorney, Rob Carey, who said Mayich suffered exertional heat stroke that reduced the flow of oxygen to his brain. Powers was placed on leave after seven players submitted an anonymous letter on Sept. 28 calling for the coaches to be removed pending an independent investigation. The players feared retaliation and said Powers appeared to downplay the severity of the situation.
The university found that the coaching staff did not submit a training plan for the workout for review, and that the Green Beret who led the workout did not have a contract with the school. A former state supreme court justice is leading a school-commissioned review, and the Arizona State Police Department is also investigating. Assistants Alex Hicks and Mike Corbett are on administrative leave, and athletic trainer Amanda Doyle was reassigned.
Dave Hakstol, who previously led North Dakota for 11 seasons and took both the Philadelphia Flyers and Seattle Kraken to the NHL playoffs, has been hired to replace Powers. He will join the Sun Devils for their games Friday and Saturday at UMass Lowell and has hired Matt Greene as an assistant. Powers, head coach since 2010, went 165-183-25 with the Sun Devils.
Source: ESPN NHL · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing