Arizona State men's hockey coach Greg Powers has left the program, the university announced Thursday, days after being placed on administrative leave following the collapse of defenseman Matthew Mayich during an early morning outdoor workout on Aug. 20. Colorado Avalanche assistant Dave Hakstol has been hired to replace him. In a statement released 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, remains in the hospital and is unlikely to recover, according to his family's attorney, Rob Carey, who said Mayich suffered exertional heat stroke that reduced oxygen flow to his brain. Powers was placed on leave after seven players sent an anonymous letter on Sept. 28 calling for the coaches to be removed pending an independent investigation. The players feared retaliation from the staff, all of whom were on the field when Mayich collapsed, and said Powers did not seem to appreciate the severity of the situation.
An internal university review found that the coaching staff did not submit a training plan for the workout for review and that the Green Beret who led it had no contract with the school. A former state supreme court justice is leading a school-commissioned review, and the Arizona State Police Department is investigating, with a report to the Maricopa County Attorney's Office once complete. Powers' assistants, Alex Hicks and Mike Corbett, are on administrative leave, and athletic trainer Amanda Doyle has been reassigned.
Hakstol spent 11 seasons as head coach at the University of North Dakota and led both the Philadelphia Flyers and Seattle Kraken to the NHL playoffs. He will join the Sun Devils for games Friday and Saturday at UMass Lowell and has hired Matt Greene as an assistant. Powers, a former Arizona State player, went 165-183-25 as head coach since 2010 and led the Sun Devils to the NCAA tournament in the 2018-19 season.
Source: ESPN NHL · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing