Arizona State men’s hockey players ask school to place coach Greg Powers on leave

Arizona State University has placed head hockey coach Greg Powers on administrative leave. This action follows a critical incident where a player, identified as Matthew Mayich, collapsed during an outdoor workout. The situation escalated after members of the ASU men's hockey team requested that the school place their coaches on leave. According to reports from NBC News, Mayich is currently hospitalized and is unlikely to recover, a statement provided by the family's attorney. Coverage from a variety of outlets emphasizes the conflict between the university and the athletes.

FOX 10 Phoenix reports that ASU hockey players have anonymously disputed a report issued by the university regarding the events leading to Mayich's collapse. This sentiment is echoed by AZ Family, which notes that players are actively challenging the ASU report concerning the workout. The push for administrative action was also highlighted by USA Today and Sportsnet.ca, both of which detailed the players' calls for the school to remove the coaching staff from their duties during the investigation. Contextual reports indicate a divide in legal and institutional responses to the tragedy. While the players sought accountability and administrative leave for the staff, azcentral.com and The Arizona Republic report that the Maricopa County attorney has declined to investigate the collapse of the hockey player.

This creates a scenario where the university's internal review is the primary focus, despite the aforementioned disputes from the players regarding the accuracy of that report. The Grand Forks Herald confirmed the university's eventual decision to place Powers on leave. Future developments will likely center on the veracity of the university's report and the medical status of Matthew Mayich. Because the players have already disputed the university's findings, further disagreements between the athletic department and the team are possible. Observers will be monitoring whether the university modifies its official account of the outdoor workout or if further administrative actions are taken beyond the current leave of absence for Greg Powers, as reported by The Independent and other news sources.