Arizona State men’s hockey coach Greg Powers refused to answer questions Wednesday about the August incident that left sophomore player Matthew Mayich on life support, during a National Collegiate Hockey Conference media day news conference held online.
Mayich, a 21-year-old from Ontario, Canada, collapsed on August 20 during an outdoor team workout in temperatures near the high 80s. The 45-minute session, led by former Green Beret and ASU hockey supporter Tim Ziesel, included calisthenics and sprinting, with extra exercises added for players who fell behind. According to The Athletic, Mayich was seen struggling before he collapsed while carrying a 10-pound medicine ball during a full-field sprint. A trainer and teammates tried to help him, but he stayed unconscious and was taken to a local hospital.
Doctors have said Mayich suffered an exertional heat stroke that cut off oxygen to his brain. He remains on life support, and his family says they have been told he has little chance of improvement.
Coach Declines Comment
Powers told reporters on the call that the situation has been “a difficult time” for the program and said everyone is offering Mayich their “thoughts and prayers.”
“I know there will be more questions about Matthew, and we won’t be able to answer those today,” Powers said.
When a reporter asked about the hospitalized player, Powers said, “Respectfully, I decline to answer any questions regarding Aug. 20.” Asked whether he had anyone in mind to hold responsible for Mayich’s condition, Powers said, “Not today.”
Reporters continued to press for answers about Mayich, prompting NCHC associate commissioner Michael Weisman to intervene. “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.”
Additional questions about Mayich followed regardless, and each time Powers repeated that he had to “decline to answer any questions” about the incident.
Powers Defends the Program
Powers later told reporters he believes Arizona State remains a safe environment for its athletes.
“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.”
Powers, now in his 19th year as head coach, also said he still considers himself fit to lead the program. “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,” he 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.”
Last season, the Sun Devils finished last in the NCHC and lost 10 of their final 12 games. Powers had called the team “soft” and unable to “attack adversity,” and reportedly told players to expect tougher conditions going forward.
Asked directly whether he bears any responsibility for the workout that preceded Mayich’s collapse, Powers said, “I don’t run workouts. Our strength and conditioning coach does.”
