Katie Strang pressed Greg Powers about the workout that left Matthew Mayich fighting for his life, with incessant questioning.
Greg Powers, the head coach of the Arizona State hockey team, met with reporters for the first time since one of his players passed away during an offseason workout last month. The press briefing, on the other hand, was a lesson in avoidance rather than clarity.
Powers started by telling the media that he would not be answering questions regarding the Matthew Mayich incident. Mayich is a St. Louis Blues prospect who had exertional heat stroke during a team exercise on August 20. According to Rob Carey, the family’s lawyer, Mayich is still in the hospital in serious condition and is not expected to make it. Nevertheless, Powers offered the following opening statement:
““As you undoubtedly know, it’s a very difficult time for everybody in our program. Matthew Mayich has been hospitalized since August 20th. And Matthew and his family are very much in our thoughts, in our prayers, and at the forefront of our minds as we try to prepare for a new season. The players and coaches and staff who work with the team, we are all affected by what has happened. And everybody is coping with this in different ways. ”
Powers declined to confirm if he holds himself responsible or if any of his employees voiced worries about the workout before it occurred, even after journalists made many attempts to question him on the subject.
During the news conference of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference, Powers stated, “There are clearly some things that have been spoken about me, and I appreciate whatever anyone has to say. But I still believe I am the ideal candidate, and twenty years of work and creating a program, almost twenty years now.”
Powers gave a measured but notably ambiguous answer when ESPN’s Katie Strang pressed him, asking why his players should continue to suit up for him after witnessing what had happened to their teammate. “Here, I’ve worked for 20 years. In addition, I have had great success establishing bonds that I truly cherish and that the players also appreciate. Not everything will work out as planned, and I am far from that.”
The entire situation was rendered more perplexing and contentious since Powers was unable to provide the correct answers and Strang desired them.
The press conference took place a day after Arizona State issued a preliminary report that stated Powers’ coaching personnel had neglected to give the university’s strength and conditioning staff a training plan for the workout on August 20 for review. Tim Ziesel, the former Green Beret who oversaw the outdoor session, did not have a formal contract with the school, according to the report.
Powers, who coached the program since 2010 and played at Arizona State in the 1990s, acknowledged speaking with Mayich’s parents but refused to reveal any information about their discussion.
The university has stated that the findings of its own continuing investigation into the collapse by the ASU Police Department would be sent to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office for an independent assessment. According to Carey, the Mayich family’s lawyer, a completely autonomous investigation is required.
Arizona State also announced plans to form a panel of experts charged with generating fresh recommendations for the usage of outdoor consultants and outdoor athletic activities.
Matthew Mayich is still unresponsive in a hospital bed, and significant concerns about the program’s leadership are still unanswered. However, the Sun Devils are still scheduled to begin their season on Oct. 2 at Lindenwood.
