Heated exchange erupts between ASU coach and reporter over Matthew Mayich tragedy

Arizona State hockey head coach Greg Powers faced reporters for the first time since one of his players collapsed during an offseason workout last month. But rather than providing clarity, the press conference became a study in evasion.

Powers opened by telling media he would not be fielding questions about the incident involving Matthew Mayich, a St. Louis Blues prospect who suffered exertional heat stroke during a team workout on Aug. 20. Mayich remains hospitalized in critical condition and is unlikely to recover, according to his family's attorney, Rob Carey. Powers however made this 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. "

Despite repeated attempts by reporters to press him on the matter, Powers refused to say whether he holds himself accountable or whether anyone on his staff raised concerns about the workout before it took place.

"There's obviously some things that have been said about me and I respect anything anybody has to say. But I believe I am the right guy, and 20 years of a body of work and building a program, almost 20 years now, I still believe that," Powers said during the National Collegiate Hockey Conference news conference.

When Katie Strang of ESPN pressed him and asked why his players should continue to suit up for him after witnessing what happened to their teammate, Powers offered a measured but notably vague response. "I have 20 years of experience here. And a lot of success with developing relationships that I value very much that the players also value. Not everything is going to go perfectly, and I'm certainly far from that."

Strang wanted the answers and Powers failed to provide the right answers, making the whole thing even more frustrating and controversial.

The press conference came just one day after Arizona State released a preliminary report revealing that Powers' coaching staff never submitted a training plan for the Aug. 20 workout to the university's strength and conditioning staff for review. The report also found that Tim Ziesel, the former Green Beret who led the outdoor session, did not have a formal contract with the school.

Powers, who played at Arizona State in the 1990s and has coached the program since 2010, confirmed he has spoken with Mayich's parents but declined to share any details about that conversation.

The ASU Police Department continues its own investigation into the collapse, and the university has said the resulting report will be forwarded to the Maricopa County Attorney's Office for independent review. Carey, the Mayich family's attorney, has called for a fully independent probe.

Arizona State also announced plans to assemble a panel of experts tasked with developing new recommendations for outdoor athletic activities and the use of outside consultants.

The Sun Devils are stilll scheduled to open their season on Oct. 2 at Lindenwood, with significant questions about the program's leadership still unanswered, while Matthew Mayich remains unresponsive in a hospital bed.