Arizona State just put hockey coach Greg Powers on administrative leave on Wednesday, and it’s a direct fallout from the investigation into defenseman Matthew Mayich’s terrifying collapse during an outdoor workout on August 20.
The Crushing Reality for Matthew Mayich
This isn’t just about a coaching change, not by a long shot. Matthew Mayich, a 21-year-old defenseman, collapsed on the very first day the NCAA allows official activities. It’s truly heartbreaking. According to family attorney Rob Carey, Mayich suffered external heat stroke, which cut off the oxygen flow to his brain. The brutal truth? He’s unlikely to recover. Powers, meanwhile, won’t be with the team for their season opener at Lindenwood this Friday. Assistant coach Mike Corbett is stepping up to lead the team, and you can bet an interim coach will be named real soon to try and bring some stability to this reeling program.
The Pressure Built Until ASU Had No Choice
The call for action wasn’t quiet. Seven players sent a letter to university President Michael Crow on Monday, pushing hard for the coaches involved in that workout to be put on administrative leave until an independent investigation wrapped up. They didn’t pull any punches, either, even calling out discrepancies from the university’s initial probe. Then, Mayich’s parents, John and Christina Mayich, echoed that sentiment with their own statement on Tuesday, agreeing that the coaching staff needed to step aside. Even the National Collegiate Hockey Conference jumped in, saying they support ASU’s decision to put Powers on leave while everything surrounding Matthew Mayich’s trauma gets examined. ASU athletic director Graham Rossini put it simply: the focus is on Matthew and his family, and on giving the student-athletes the support they need. He said putting Powers on leave was the “best move” to provide stability, but you gotta wonder how stable things feel right now.
So, the Arizona State hockey team rolls into their season opener against Lindenwood this Friday with assistant coach Mike Corbett at the helm and a massive cloud hanging over everything. The future of the program, the investigation, and most importantly, Matthew Mayich’s heartbreaking condition, are all staring down the barrel. What happens next? We’re all waiting to see.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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