ASU Hockey Turmoil: Seven Players Seek Leave for Coaching Staff After Teammate’s Workout Collapse
ASU hockey turmoil has intensified after seven members of the Arizona State University men’s hockey team formally asked the university to place the coaching staff on administrative leave and conduct an independent investigation into the August collapse of teammate Matthew Mayich.
The players submitted an anonymous 26-page letter to ASU President Michael Crow through an attorney on September 28. They said they feared retaliation because the coaching staff remains responsible for decisions involving playing time, scholarships and roster positions.
The request comes as ASU police continue investigating the August 20 workout and as questions remain over differences between the university’s initial account and the players’ description of what happened.
Matthew Mayich Collapsed During August Workout
Matthew Mayich, a 21-year-old defenseman from Ontario, collapsed during an outdoor workout on August 20, shortly after transferring to Arizona State from Clarkson University.
Mayich had previously played for the Ottawa 67’s of the Ontario Hockey League and was selected by the St. Louis Blues in the sixth round of the 2023 NHL Draft. He had not signed an entry-level contract with the Blues.
According to the Mayich family’s attorney, the player suffered exertional heat stroke that resulted in a severe brain injury. He has remained hospitalized, and his family has been told that he is unlikely to recover.
The workout was conducted outdoors and involved an outside consultant, Timothy Ziesel, a former Green Beret who had been brought in for team-building and conditioning activities.
Seven Players Dispute ASU’s Initial Report
The players’ letter challenges several details contained in an initial university report released September 21.
ASU’s report said the workout took place during the morning and included calisthenics. It described temperatures of approximately 86 to 89 degrees and said Mayich struggled during one of the final exercises before collapsing. Athletic staff used iced towels and water while emergency responders were contacted.
The seven players provided a different account.
They said the workout lasted more than an hour and that there was only one brief opportunity for players to get water. According to their letter, the break occurred roughly 35 to 45 minutes into the session and only some players reached the water before the workout continued. They said Mayich was not among those who received water during that break.
The players also said Mayich showed signs of distress before the final exercise, including visible disorientation.
These claims are allegations contained in the players’ letter and remain subject to investigation.
Questions Raised About Heat-Safety Procedures
A major part of the players’ complaint concerns whether Arizona State’s heat-illness procedures were followed.
According to the players, the team did not have a cold-water immersion tub, ice chest or other equipment they say was required under ASU’s heat-illness policies.
The university’s policy recommends immediate access to cold-water immersion equipment for serious heat-related illness. The players said those resources were not available at the workout site when Mayich collapsed.
They also questioned whether Mayich had been sufficiently acclimatized to Arizona’s heat after recently arriving from New York.
ASU’s initial report recommended that the university review its policies concerning outdoor athletic activities and the use of outside consultants. The report did not assign blame to an individual.
Players Request Administrative Leave and Outside Investigation
The seven players are asking ASU to place the coaches and other staff members involved in approving, conducting or supervising the workout on administrative leave.
They also want an interim coaching staff installed while an independent investigation takes place.
The players have asked that the investigation be handled by an agency outside the university. They are also seeking written assurances that players who cooperate with investigators will not lose scholarships, roster positions or playing time because they spoke about the incident.
The Arizona State Police Department is already investigating the incident. Once completed, its report is expected to be sent to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office for independent review.
Coach Greg Powers Has Defended His Position
ASU head coach Greg Powers addressed the situation publicly on September 23 but declined to discuss specific details of the investigation.
Powers said the incident had been extremely difficult for the program and that the team should continue to honor Mayich while preparing for the season.
During the media appearance, Powers also said he continued to believe he was the appropriate person to lead the program, pointing to nearly two decades of work building the Arizona State hockey program.
The latest letter from the players now puts that coaching leadership directly at the center of their request for administrative action while the investigation continues.
ASU Investigation Remains Ongoing
Arizona State has acknowledged receiving the players’ letter. As of the latest reports, the university had not publicly responded to the specific allegations contained in the document.
The situation therefore involves several separate accounts: the university’s initial review, the players’ newly submitted allegations, statements from Mayich’s family representatives and the ongoing police investigation.
The differences between those accounts are expected to be examined as investigators continue their work.
Season Begins Amid Uncertainty
The dispute comes just before the start of Arizona State’s hockey season, adding another layer of uncertainty for the program.
The players’ request is not itself a finding that members of the coaching staff violated university policy or caused Mayich’s injuries. Those questions remain part of the ongoing investigations.
For Arizona State, the immediate issues include determining what occurred during the August workout, whether established heat-safety procedures were followed, how Mayich was treated after collapsing and whether changes are necessary to prevent similar incidents.
The independent investigation requested by the players could become an important next step in resolving the conflicting accounts.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What happened to Matthew Mayich?
Matthew Mayich collapsed during an outdoor Arizona State hockey workout on August 20. His family’s attorney said he suffered exertional heat stroke and a severe brain injury. He remains hospitalized and is not expected to recover, according to his family’s representatives.
2. How many ASU hockey players requested action?
Seven Arizona State hockey players submitted the anonymous letter seeking administrative leave for the coaching staff and an independent investigation.
3. Who is the Arizona State hockey coach?
Greg Powers is the head coach of the Arizona State men’s hockey program.
4. Why did the players submit their letter anonymously?
The players said they feared retaliation because the coaching staff controls or influences playing time, scholarships and roster positions.
5. What are the players asking Arizona State to do?
They want the relevant coaching staff placed on administrative leave, an interim coaching staff appointed and an investigation conducted by an outside agency.
6. What does the players’ letter dispute?
The players dispute several details in ASU’s initial report, including the duration of the workout, timing and availability of water, heat-safety procedures and the response after Mayich collapsed.
7. Is ASU investigating the incident?
Yes. The Arizona State Police Department is investigating the incident, with its report expected to be submitted to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office for independent review.
8. Was an outside consultant involved in the workout?
Yes. Timothy Ziesel, a former Green Beret, led the workout as an outside consultant brought in for team-building and conditioning activities. The players have questioned whether the consultant was properly vetted under ASU policies.
9. Has Arizona State blamed the coaching staff?
The university’s initial report did not assign blame to an individual. The players’ latest letter disputes parts of that report and asks for further independent investigation.
10. What happens next in the ASU hockey case?
The Arizona State Police investigation remains ongoing, while the university must consider the players’ request for administrative leave and an outside investigation. The findings of the investigations will help establish what happened during the August workout and whether university policies were followed.
