ASU Assistant Hockey Coach Tim Hicks Out for Home Opener, ASU Confirms
- Family lawyer Rob Carey explained to ESPN that benching Powers while his close confidant of ten years remains at the helm of the team fails to fix the...
- The decision follows the near-fatal collapse of 21-year-old hockey player Matthew Mayich during an August 20 military-style workout led by a former Green Beret.
- ASU spokesperson Jay Thorne confirmed in a phone interview that Hicks will not join the team this weekend.
Family lawyer Rob Carey explained to ESPN that benching Powers while his close confidant of ten years remains at the helm of the team fails to fix the issue. That dynamic shifted Thursday when Arizona State University announced that assistant coach Tim Hicks will not be behind the bench for the team’s home opener Friday night.
The decision follows the near-fatal collapse of 21-year-old hockey player Matthew Mayich during an August 20 military-style workout led by a former Green Beret. Mayich has remained hospitalized since the incident and is unlikely to recover, according to Carey, who stated that the player suffered an exertional heat stroke that restricted oxygen flow to his brain. Hicks was one of four coaches present during the workout.
Mick Corbett Leads Squad as Powers Remains on Leave
ASU spokesperson Jay Thorne confirmed in a phone interview that Hicks will not join the team this weekend. Assistant coach Mick Corbett will lead the squad in the absence of head coach Greg Powers, who was placed on paid administrative leave last week after seven players submitted an anonymous letter challenging the university’s initial review of the events.
The players stated they acted through an attorney to avoid retaliation from Powers and his staff. Carey argued that leaving Hicks in a position of authority undermined player safety because of his close association with Powers. ASU stated that Corbett will manage the bench with support from remaining staff, including former NHL player Taylor Pyatt, who was cleared and approved as a volunteer assistant coach in August.
Players Allege Medical Failures as Trainer Is Reassigned
The athletes’ letter alleges that no one measured Mayich’s core temperature after he collapsed and that he remained in direct sunlight for several minutes without being moved. The players asserted that the field lacked a cold water immersion tub or ice chest, violating university policy, and that emergency medical services required 17 minutes to arrive.
In response to the unfolding scrutiny, ASU confirmed that team athletic trainer Amanda Doyle has been reassigned to a different team. Thorne noted that trainers are managed by student health services and experience regular reassignments. Taking Doyle’s place will be Maggie Corbett, who serves as an assistant athletic trainer for the men’s and women’s swim and diving program; Thorne also made a point to clarify that she has no relation to assistant hockey coach Mick Corbett.
ASU Seeks Interim Coach and Appoints Independent Reviewers
Athletic director Graham Rossini told Arizona Sports that the university is close to naming an interim head coach following consultations with the players. Rossini emphasized that the school is targeting a veteran leader with deep knowledge of college hockey and the conference, with an announcement expected within days.
Arizona State has appointed a former state supreme court chief justice to direct a review of the workout. Simultaneously, the Arizona State police department is conducting an investigation and plans to submit its findings to the Maricopa Attorney’s Office for independent review.
We told them that we’re committing to finding a veteran, experienced head coach, great knowledge of the sport, great knowledge of our conference and college hockey, specifically.
Graham Rossini