The Arizona State hockey program is only three weeks from the scheduled start of its 2026-27 season while dealing with the fallout from an incident during a team workout last month that ended with 21-year-old defenseman Matthew Mayich in the hospital fighting for his life.
The school has had little to say about the matter, which continues to be under review. A spokesperson for the ASU athletic department on Tuesday, Sept. 8, said the hockey program is sticking to its Sept. 5 statement for now.
That statement expressed support for Mayich and his family. Mayich, his attorney Robert Carey said last week, has "zero chance of recovery."
Thinking of you 27 💛 pic.twitter.com/fX3fInqzRr
— Sun Devil Hockey (@SunDevilHockey) September 5, 2026
The ASU hockey season is on track to start Oct. 2 in Missouri, where
the team will play two games against Lindenwood before the Mullett Arena home opener on Oct. 9.
Head coach Greg Powers remains in his position. But Powers' X profile, as shown on his Sun Devil athletics bio, no longer exists.
Mayich suffered what his family's attorney called exertional heatstroke and collapsed on Aug. 20 during a series of drills led by an ex-Green Beret on the first day of class and the first day of practice. He was rushed to a hospital and later transferred to Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, where he has remained in a coma.
ASU announced it was reviewing the incident on Aug. 25. Athletic director Graham Rossini told Arizona Sports 98.7 that the review is still ongoing on Thursday, Sept. 3.
Rossini said in the radio interview that the school had not reached a decision on Powers' future in that position.
Mayich was part of a 2026 ASU transfer portal class that ranked first in the country. He appeared in 34 games, tallying seven goals and eight assists in his freshman season at Clarkson University in Potsdam, New York.
Powers enters his 19th overall season on the Sun Devils coaching staff and his 12th as head coach of ASU’s NCAA Division I program. On Nov. 20, 2025, Powers signed a five-year extension through 2030.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: ASU set to start season amid review of hockey player's collapse
