Arizona State head hockey coach Greg Powers has been placed on paid administrative leave, the university confirmed, just days after multiple members of the team formally asked the school to remove him while an investigation into a teammate's collapse proceeds.
The decision to place Powers on leave marks a significant escalation in a rapidly developing situation that has drawn attention from the college hockey community and raised questions about player safety and program leadership in Tempe.
According to reporting by Tisha Thompson of ESPN, the inquiry centers on the collapse of a player identified as Matthew Mayich during a workout. The circumstances surrounding that incident have not been fully disclosed, but the players' request for Powers' removal pending the investigation signals deep concern within the locker room.
Paid administrative leave typically allows an employee to remain on the payroll while an employer conducts a review, and it does not constitute a finding of wrongdoing. The university has not announced a timeline for the investigation or indicated when a decision on Powers' future with the program will be made.
For Arizona State, the development arrives at a sensitive moment for a program that has worked to establish itself on the national stage. The coming days are likely to bring further clarity as the university's review moves forward and players await answers about both the incident and the leadership of their team.
