[4] In fall 1922, the University of Pennsylvania recruited Powers to coach its hockey and lacrosse teams.

Financial troubles at the university led Penn to disband the team, but Powers was offered his first job as a professional ice hockey coach, joining the Toronto St. Patricks for the 1924-1925 season.

He then joined the Toronto Maple Leafs organization where he was the assistant coach in 1940–41[5] and during the 1942 Stanley Cup Finals.

On January 17, 1943 the day of the final game for the Eagles, Powers went out to buy a newspaper, and collapsed of a cerebral hemorrhage in New Haven, Connecticut.

[7] At the time of his death, Powers had been considering a coaching job in the Quebec Senior Hockey League offered by T. P. Gorman, who knew him from his youth, playing against him in lacrosse.

[8] Coaches Hap Day of the Maple Leafs and Dick Irvin of the Montreal Canadiens both praised Powers as a "fine fellow", "a real gentleman" and "a great hockey player.

Powers married Pearl Dennahower and was the father of one daughter (Audrie) and five sons, ( Rowan, James, Edward, Novey and Patrick), whom were in the RCAF at the time of his death.

[10] Powers was also a scout for the Toronto Maple Leafs and head of their farm system during his career.