TEMPE, Ariz. — Arizona State University has parted ways with longtime men’s hockey coach Greg Powers and appointed former NHL head coach Dave Hakstol to lead the program as an investigation continues into the collapse of 21-year-old player Matthew Mayich during an outdoor workout in August.
Mayich, a sophomore defenseman, collapsed during a team workout in Tempe on August 20 and was hospitalized after suffering exertional heat stroke. According to the attorney representing his family, the incident severely reduced the oxygen reaching his brain, and his recovery is considered highly unlikely. Mayich remains hospitalized, according to reports published this week.
Arizona State announced on October 15 that it had reached a mutual agreement to part ways with Powers. The coach had been placed on paid administrative leave on September 30 while the university gathered information about the incident.
Powers had led the Sun Devils through their first 12 seasons as an NCAA Division I program. During his tenure, Arizona State established itself in major college hockey and reached the NCAA Tournament in the 2018-19 season.
The coaching change comes amid continuing questions about the circumstances surrounding Mayich’s collapse. Seven members of the team had requested Powers’ removal while the investigation was pending. The case has also raised concerns about player safety, accountability and the need for a transparent review of the workout.
Arizona State has appointed former Arizona Supreme Court Chief Justice Scott Bales to lead an independent review of the incident. The university has requested that the review be completed by early December. The investigation is expected to examine the circumstances of the workout and the decisions surrounding it.
Mayich’s family, through its attorney, has called for a comprehensive review and public disclosure of the findings. The family has also emphasized the importance of protecting players who have raised concerns. Its attorney has said Powers’ departure should not limit the cooperation of anyone involved in the incident.
Arizona State has named Dave Hakstol as its new head coach. Hakstol, 58, most recently served as an assistant coach with the Colorado Avalanche. He previously coached the Philadelphia Flyers and Seattle Kraken in the NHL and spent 11 seasons leading the University of North Dakota, guiding the program to seven Frozen Four appearances.
Hakstol is expected to take charge immediately as Arizona State continues its 2026-27 season. The Sun Devils are scheduled to face UMass Lowell in a two-game road series on October 16 and 17. The university has also announced Matt Greene, a former NHL defenseman and two-time Stanley Cup champion, as an assistant coach.
The change in leadership marks a significant moment for Arizona State’s hockey program, but the investigation into Mayich’s collapse remains a separate and unresolved matter. As of October 16, the university had not publicly released the findings of the independent review. The review will be central to clarifying the circumstances of the August workout and addressing the concerns raised by the player’s family and members of the team.