ASU Hockey Coach Put On Leave After Player Collapses In Workout
Arizona State placed head hockey coach Greg Powers on paid administrative leave on Wednesday after sophomore defenseman Matthew Mayich collapsed during a team workout.[1] The player's family lawyer says Mayich is unlikely to recover.[1]
ASU named assistant coach Mike Corbett to take over pending an interim appointment.[1] Seven players, in an anonymous letter to ASU's president, say the workout was run by outside consultant Tim Ziesel without proper approval and that it lacked water and emergency cooling.[1] The letter also says the drill lasted longer than reported and continued after players showed signs of distress.[1] Mayich's parents have asked that all coaches involved be put on leave and have raised fears of retaliation against players, while Ziesel denied the session was "military-style" or unusually demanding.[1]
On August 20, 2026, Mayich collapsed during a medicine-ball running drill at an outdoor facility.[1] The anonymous letter and the family's public calls helped prompt ASU's decision and have intensified scrutiny of the program's use of outside trainers.[1]
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📌 Key Facts
- On August 20, 2026, ASU sophomore defenseman Matthew Mayich collapsed during a medicine-ball running drill at an outdoor facility and is now described by the family’s lawyer as unlikely to recover.
- On September 30, 2026, ASU placed head hockey coach Greg Powers on paid administrative leave and named assistant coach Mike Corbett to take over pending an interim appointment.
- Seven players, in an anonymous letter to ASU’s president, allege the workout was run by outside consultant Tim Ziesel without proper approval, lasted longer than reported, lacked adequate water and emergency cooling equipment, and continued after players showed signs of distress.
- Mayich’s parents publicly called for all coaches involved in the workout to be put on leave and raised concerns about possible retaliation against players, while Ziesel issued a statement disputing that the session was “military-style” or unusually demanding.
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