What's happened
Arizona State University has appointed Dave Hakstol as its new head coach following the dismissal of Greg Powers as the investigation into Matthew Mayich’s collapse continues. The school has asked former Arizona Supreme Court Chief Justice Scott Bales to lead an independent review, with findings due by early December. Sun Devil Hockey aims to rise to national prominence as more details emerge about Mayich’s condition and the team’s preparations for the season.
What's behind the headline?
Analysis
- The development consolidates leadership around a crisis, signaling an attempt to stabilize the program while the independent review runs its course.
- Hakstol’s track record in developing players and building championship-caliber programs is framed as a signal that ASU intends to accelerate competitive improvement.
- The investigation’s timing and scope will shape public perception of accountability; ensure readers monitor the review’s public release and any disclosures from ASU or the family’s representatives.
- The concurrent hiring may influence recruiting and staff decisions, with players and recruits watching how leadership responds to the incident.
- Expect ongoing updates as the independent review progresses and as more details emerge from the investigation and internal changes.
How we got here
Powers has been placed on administrative leave as ASU conducts an independent review into the outdoor workout during which Mayich collapsed from external heat stroke. Hakstol brings NHL experience to ASU, having coached in Philadelphia and Seattle, and he is currently an advisor focusing on the team’s power play. The university has engaged Justice Scott Bales to oversee the investigation, with a deadline set for early December.
Our analysis
AP News, New York Post, Independent, and other outlets report on Hakstol’s hiring and the Bales review, noting Powers’ leave and Mayich’s condition. Direct quotes from university statements underline the administration’s stance; family attorney Rob Carey highlights the demand for full transparency and digital evidence.
Go deeper
- What updates have emerged from Justice Bales’ review?
- How will Hakstol’s earlier NHL experience influence ASU’s player development this season?
- What safeguards will ASU implement to prevent a recurrence of this incident?
More on these topics
-
Colorado Avalanche - Ice hockey team
The Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver. They compete in the National Hockey League as a member of the Central Division of the Western Conference.
-
Dave Hakstol - Canadian ice hockey coach
David Hakstol is a Canadian ice hockey coach. He is the head coach of the Seattle Kraken of the National Hockey League. A native of Warburg, Alberta, Hakstol was the head coach for Sioux City Musketeers for four seasons.
-
Toronto Maple Leafs - Ice hockey team
The Toronto Maple Leafs, officially the Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club and often simply referred to as the Leafs, are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto.
-
Arizona State University - Public university in Tempe, Arizona
Arizona State University is a public metropolitan research university on five campuses across the Phoenix metropolitan area, and four regional learning centers throughout Arizona. ASU is one of the largest public universities by enrollment in the U.S.
-
Seattle Kraken - Ice hockey team
The Seattle Kraken are a professional ice hockey team based in Seattle. The Kraken compete in the National Hockey League as a member of the Pacific Division in the Western Conference and began play during the league's 2021–22 season.
-
Jared Bednar - Canadian ice hockey player and coach
Jared Garry Bednar (born February 28, 1972) is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach and former player who is the head coach for the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League (NHL). He previously coached the Lake Erie Monsters of the American...
-
Philadelphia Flyers - Ice hockey team
The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia. They compete in the National Hockey League as a member of the Metropolitan Division of the Eastern Conference.
-
University of North Dakota - Public university in North Dakota, United States of America
The University of North Dakota (UND) is a public research university in Grand Forks, North Dakota, United States. It was established by the Dakota Territorial Assembly in 1883, six years before the establishment of the state of North Dakota. The universit
-
Arizona - US State
Arizona is a state in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the Western and the Mountain states. It is the 6th largest and the 14th most populous of the 50 states. Its capital and largest city is Phoenix.
-
Tempe - City in Arizona
Tempe, is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States, with the Census Bureau reporting a 2019 population of 195,805. The city is named after the Vale of Tempe in Greece.
-
North Dakota - US State
North Dakota is a U.S. state in the midwestern and northern regions of the United States. It is the nineteenth largest in area, the fourth smallest by population, and the fourth most sparsely populated of the 50 states.