Arizona State hockey officially parted ways with former head coach Greg Powers and hired Colorado Avalanche assistant Dave Hakstol to be the next coach on Oct. 15.
Powers had been put on administrative leave on Sept. 30 after a workout that left defenseman Matthew Mayich on life support, and family attorney Robert Carey said he has no chance of recovery.
ASU wrote in an email to The Arizona Republic that it has “reached a mutual agreement to part ways with hockey coach Greg Powers. The university and Sun Devil Athletics are grateful for Coach Powers’ work to establish ASU as a Division 1 hockey program and for his service over the past nearly two decades."
No details were immediately provided by the university about the terms of Powers' exit.
The email adds: "... Hakstol is hiring Matt Greene, most recently with the Los Angeles Kings and a former NHL player with 12 seasons in the league and six years on the Kings hockey operations and coaching staff, to be an assistant and will retain current ASU hockey assistant coach Jimmy Mullin. Hakstol and Greene will immediately join the team this weekend for games against UMass Lowell."
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ASU Athletics Director Graham Rossini made the announcement via school statement: “We welcome Dave Hakstol and his family to Arizona State University. His success building championship-caliber programs, developing players for the highest level of the sport, and leading organizations in the NHL speaks to his knowledge of the game and his ability to develop talent.
“We appreciate Dave’s belief in ASU and look forward to supporting him as we continue to build Sun Devil Hockey into one of the nation’s premier programs.”
Hakstol, 58, was behind the Avalanche's bench in Denver for the team's 3-2 loss to the Dallas Stars on Oct. 14. He had just begun his second year as an assistant with the Avalanche and was in charge of the power play.
Seattle Kraken head coach Dave Hakstol on his bench against the Calgary Flames during the second period at Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, on Nov. 1, 2022.
A 15-day transfer portal now opens, but any ASU players leaving would not be eligible to play during the current season.
Hakstol, an Alberta native with NCAA coaching experience, spent 11 seasons at his alma mater, North Dakota, before moving to the NHL. He became head coach at UND in 2004 and led the program to seven Frozen Four appearances in 11 seasons, including an NCAA runner-up finish in his first season.
He left UND to become head coach of the NHL's Philadelphia Flyers in 2015 and led the team to two playoff berths in three seasons before the team fired him 31 games into the 2018-19 season. He was hired to lead the expansion Seattle Kraken for three seasons starting in 2021 and made one playoff appearance.
According to reports, ASU assistant Mike Corbett, who led the team to a 2-2 record as the sitting head coach, was expected to be placed on paid leave. Assistant Alex Hicks did not coach in the home series against Holy Cross on Oct. 9-10. Both were present at the outdoor workout.
ASU will face UMass-Lowell on the road on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 16-17.
Powers previously placed on administrative leave
ASU made its announcement on Powers' departure almost two months after the near-fatal workout as Mayich's family and about two weeks after several players accused the university of "whitewashing" events surrounding the Aug. 20 team practice.
Powers, who previously has defended his ability to continue coaching the team, said in a Sept. 30 statement that he supported the decision to be put on administrative leave.
At the time, he encouraged his former players "to speak openly and honestly about their experiences. I will support them from a distance while the facts are carefully examined and the process moves forward," Powers said.
Powers had led the team since 2010, when the Sun Devils played in the American College Hockey Association. The team moved to NCAA competition in 2015. He made $450,000 annually, according to an ASU salary database maintained by the State Press, the ASU student newspaper.
Seven ASU hockey players who were on the field during the near-fatal workout that left Mayich on life support accused the university of hiding the truth about it.
Through an attorney, the players said the narrative of events put out by coaches, staff and administrators did not reflect "the cruelty and incompetency" of what happened before, during and after the workout.
After the players spoke up, Arizona State University hired Scott Bales, a former state Supreme Court chief justice, to conduct an independent review.
University officials announced the move Oct. 2, just hours before the Sun Devils team was set to take to the ice in its season opener.
Contract rules and heat-illness policies appear violated
An ongoing investigation by The Republic found multiple potential policy violations connected to the workout and Mayich's collapse.
The Republic found Tim Ziesel, the non-staff workout instructor, did not go through the required vetting process or sign standard forms before starting drills.
The Republic also found ASU did not appear to follow its own rules designed to protect students from exertional heat illness before, during and after the workout.
Powers issues statement after departure
Powers issued a statement after ASU's announcement about Mayich, the growth of hockey at the school and the future of the program.
A yellow ribbon with "MM #27" written in black, a tribute to Matthew Mayich, given away to fans prior to Arizona State Hockey's Oct. 9 matchup against Holy Cross at Mullet Arena.
"Firstly and most importantly, I continue to hope for strength and healing for Matthew and his family."Today I have mutually agreed to leave my position as Head Coach of Sun Devil Hockey. Against all odds, for almost two decades, so many of us have poured our hearts and our souls into building a Division I Hockey Program at Arizona State.
"I want to thank everyone who played a part in making this dream a reality. From our families, coaches/staff, donors, fans, and administration both past and present… Our program would not be where it is today without your unwavering dedication and support. To our Hockey alumni, I love you all so much… Unconditionally."A new chapter of Sun Devil Hockey now awaits. It is my hope that everyone will continue to support Sun Devil Hockey with the same passion and vigor that we all have to this point. I also wish Success, and pledge unwavering support to the new staff that has been chosen to push the rock forward to new heights."I love this program and always will. Go Devils and #BETHETRADITION."
Mayich family asks for outside investigation to continue
The Mayich family, through its attorney, asked that what happened at the workout continue to be investigated fully and rigorously and wished the new coaches well.
“Our focus remains where it has been since August 20, on Matthew, and making sure what happened to him is fully understood and never happens to another player. It seems more like a negotiated agreement than accountability, and so we believe Justice Bales’s investigation must continue with its full scope, gathering all digital evidence and covering everyone involved in that morning’s workout and in approving it, and its findings must be made public.
"Coach Powers’s departure should not limit his cooperation or anyone else’s, and the players who have spoken up must be protected. We wish Coach Hakstol, his staff, and the players a safe and successful season.”
