Arizona State hockey coach declines repeatedly to talk about workout that left Matthew Mayich in a coma

· Yahoo Sports

Arizona State men’s hockey coach Greg Powers did not want to talk about the workout that left sophomore Matthew Mayich on life support on Wednesday.

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Powers, speaking for the first time publicly since Mayich was hospitalized more than a month ago, insisted that Arizona State is still “a great place to be” while refusing to address the incident repeatedly when speaking with reporters during the National Collegiate Hockey Conference’s media day.

Mayich was participating in a workout with the team on Aug. 20 when he collapsed and later fell into a coma. He was taken to a local hospital, and has since been transferred to a neurological institute where he remains in a coma. It was nearly 90 degrees at the time of the workout, which was described as “grueling” and run by an ex-Green Beret soldier. Mayich allegedly showed obvious signs of distress and was unable to complete tasks throughout the workout.

Powers said Wednesday that it has been “a difficult time” for the Sun Devils’ program, and that Mayich had been in “our thoughts and prayers.”

That, though, was about it.

“I know there will be more questions about Matthew, and we won’t be able to answer those today,” Powers said, via The Athletic.

Reporters pressed Powers repeatedly, and things got a bit heated at the virtual video conference. One reporter asked if Powers held himself responsible.

“Respectfully, I decline to answer any questions regarding Aug. 20,” he replied, via The Athletic.

The reporter continued later and asked about the report that Arizona State released on Tuesday, which said that Powers and his staff didn’t submit the training activities to the school’s strength and conditioning coaches for review. The report did not assign any blame for the incident.

NCHC associate commissioner Michael Weisman then jumped in.

“We said we’re not here to talk about the report,” Weisman said. “We said that at the beginning. We’re here to talk about the season.”

Later, a reporter asked Powers if any of his players had raised concerns before the workout. He declined to answer again. Powers was asked why he felt it was more important to talk about hockey rather than Mayich.

“Again, just not able to answer questions regarding it in any way,” he replied.

The only real answer he gave regarding the subject came when he was asked how he would assure nervous parents about sending players to play for the Sun Devils after this incident.

“Everything that we believe — and so many players that have played here before and the guys that are here now — that is great about playing hockey at Arizona State still are great about playing hockey at Arizona State,” Powers said. “We have an unbelievable university with, obviously, the opportunity to gain an incredible education. A vibrant market, a beautiful campus, a beautiful arena, with people and support here that are here for our student-athletes. Everything that has been great about coming here to play hockey still is.”

Mayich was selected by the St. Louis Blues in the sixth round of the 2023 NHL Draft, and he transferred into Arizona State from Clarkson University this past summer. He previously played in the Ontario Hockey League, too. His lawyer said earlier this month that he has “zero chance of recovery.”

How Powers has modeled accountability for his team since the incident, however, isn’t something he wanted to get into, either.

Powers has led the Sun Devils for nearly two decades now. He played goalie for the program in the late 1990s, and led the team from the club level to an NCAA Division I program in 2015. He signed a five-year extension with the university last November.

The team finished last in the NCHC last season, and lost 10 of their final 12 games. The Athletic reported that he disparaged players last season, and called them “pussies” while posting images in the locker room that included a picture of Charmin Ultra Soft toilet paper.

“In almost 20 years of doing this at this institution, I know there are a lot of people and young men that have really positive things to say about their experience here and the relationship we have that extends far beyond hockey,” Powers said. “There are some things that have been said, and I respect anything anybody has to say. I believe that I am the right guy.”

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