Arizona State Players Requested Coach Leave
Seven players sent a formal letter to the university president seeking a coaching change and outside investigation.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Hockey
Seven Arizona State hockey players have requested that head coach Greg Powers be placed on leave. The request was delivered through an attorney via a 26-page anonymous letter addressed to university president Michael Crow.
Why it matters
The players are calling for an independent police investigation, citing concerns over team management and an August training injury that left a teammate in a coma. The letter explicitly challenges findings released in a previous internal university report.
Seven players authored the 26-page letter sent to the university president. The program has competed at the Division I level since 2016.
The players
Greg Powers
He is the head coach of the Arizona State hockey program.
Michael Crow
He serves as the president of Arizona State University.
Shane Doan
He is a former professional hockey player suggested by the letter writers as an interim replacement.
Matthew Mayich
He is a transfer defenseman for the program who was injured during a training session.
Tim Casey
He is an attorney representing the players who delivered the letter to the university administration.
The details
The anonymous letter seeks to distance the players from the official university narrative regarding a training incident involving defenseman Matthew Mayich. The group has suggested that former NHL star Shane Doan take over the program on an interim basis as these disputes continue.
Timeline
August 20, 2026: A training incident left Matthew Mayich in a coma.
September 18, 2026: College Hockey News published an article supporting Powers.
September 28, 2026: Reports emerged of the anonymous player letter sent to the president.
October 2, 2026: The scheduled season opener is set to occur at Lindenwood.
Season Trajectory
This internal dispute creates substantial instability for the program just days before its season opener at Lindenwood. The request for a coaching change threatens to upend the competitive balance of the team's upcoming schedule.
The program faces a critical uncertainty regarding its leadership and roster stability just before the October 2 season opener. The demand for an outside police investigation may lead to further departmental scrutiny or changes to team staffing.
The takeaway
The situation highlights the complex tension between student-athletes and university management following serious training injuries. Observers should watch how the university's police investigation findings align or conflict with the claims made in the players' letter.
Further reading
For more on the current status of college athletics in the area, visit Hockey.
