Arizona State hockey players request coach's leave following teammate's medical emergency

<p>Seven Arizona State Sun Devils hockey players have submitted a letter requesting that the university’s president, Michael Crow, place their head coach, Greg Powers, and his staff on administrative leave. This request follows an incident during a workout on August 20 that left teammate Matthew Mayich in a coma and on life support.</p><p>The players, who remain anonymous due to concerns about retaliation, expressed their grievances in a 26-page letter sent through an attorney. They are contesting the university’s initial review of the workout, which indicated that Mayich did not receive adequate hydration and medical care after collapsing.</p><p>The players stated, "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. No one has separated us from them since that morning." They emphasized the difficulty of reporting the incident while fearing repercussions.</p><p>According to the players, the workout was conducted by a former U.S. Army Green Beret. They claimed that while the university's review stated players received a water break approximately 20 minutes into the session, the players contend that the break occurred around 40 minutes in and lasted only a few seconds. They noted that only a few players managed to drink water during this brief interval.</p><p>The letter detailed that Mayich exhibited signs of distress early in the workout, becoming disoriented during a bear crawl exercise and struggling to carry a teammate during a buddy carry drill. They asserted that no one from Arizona State properly monitored him, and when he collapsed, he was left in direct sunlight for several minutes before being moved to the shade by his teammates.</p><p>In terms of cooling measures, the players reported that the only resources available were towels, water from bottles, and a garden hose, despite the extreme heat conditions typical of Arizona in August. They highlighted that prior outdoor workouts had been limited to around 15 minutes due to heat concerns.</p><p>When questioned about the incident earlier this month, Coach Powers refrained from commenting, citing the challenging nature of the situation for the program. However, the players claimed that he initially downplayed Mayich’s condition, referring to it as a "little heat stroke." They expressed concerns that Powers did not fully grasp the seriousness of the situation.</p><p>The Sun Devils are scheduled to commence their 2026–27 season on Friday against Lindenwood.</p>