Seven current Arizona State men's hockey players have asked the university to place head coach Greg Powers on administrative leave, according to reports from multiple outlets. The request follows an Aug. 20 workout after which teammate Matthew Mayich collapsed and remains in a coma.
The players sent a letter to ASU president Michael Crow disputing the school's internal review of the incident, according to the New York Post, which described the letter as 26 pages long. The players' letter reportedly challenges numerous findings in the university's account of what happened.
According to Fox News, the players claimed Powers downplayed Mayich's collapse, referring to it as a "little heat stroke." This characterization has not been independently confirmed by other outlets in the supplied material.
Yahoo Sports reported that the players dispute the school's account of the collapse but did not detail the specific language attributed to Powers. The players are asking that the coaching staff, not only Powers individually, be placed on administrative leave, according to Yahoo Sports.
How each side covered it
Left
- Reported that seven Arizona State hockey players asked the school to place coach Greg Powers on administrative leave.
- Framed the request as stemming from the teammate's collapse during a workout.
“Arizona State men's hockey players ask school to place coach Greg Powers on leave” — The New York Times
Center
- Reported that seven players requested the coaching staff, not just Powers, be placed on administrative leave.
- Emphasized that players dispute the school's official account of the athlete's collapse.
“Seven players requested the coaching staff be put on administrative leave.” — Yahoo Sports
Right
- Reported the players claimed coach Powers downplayed Matthew Mayich's collapse as a "little heat stroke."
- Detailed the 26-page letter sent to university president Michael Crow disputing the school's internal review.
- Noted Mayich remains in a coma following the Aug. 20 workout.
“The damning 26-page letter sent to university president Michael Crow by seven current players disputed numerous findings by ASU's internal review of the Aug. 20 workout” — New York Post
Questions readers ask
What happened with the Arizona State hockey team?
Seven current Arizona State men's hockey players sent a letter to university president Michael Crow asking that head coach Greg Powers be placed on administrative leave, disputing the school's account of teammate Matthew Mayich's collapse during an Aug. 20 workout.
What is Matthew Mayich's condition?
According to the reports, Matthew Mayich collapsed during an Aug. 20 team workout and remains in a coma.
What did the players' letter to the university say?
According to the New York Post, the 26-page letter disputed numerous findings in Arizona State's internal review of the workout. Fox News reported the players claimed coach Greg Powers downplayed the collapse as a "little heat stroke."
What did coach Greg Powers allegedly say about the incident?
According to Fox News, Powers described Matthew Mayich's collapse as a "little heat stroke," a claim the players dispute as inaccurate given Mayich's coma.
What happens next in this situation?
The sources do not specify what action, if any, Arizona State University or president Michael Crow will take in response to the players' request; this remains a developing story.
Sources · 5 outlet reports
- The New York TimesLeft-leaningArizona State men’s hockey players ask school to place coach Greg Powers on leave
- USA TodayLeft-leaningArizona State hockey players call for school to place coaches on administrative leave
- Yahoo SportsCenterArizona State hockey players send letter to school president about teammate's collapse
- Fox NewsRight-leaningArizona State hockey players ask school president to place coach on leave after workout left teammate in coma
- New York PostRight-leaningArizona State hockey players want coach put on leave, dispute school’s account of teammate’s collapse