Matthew Mayich’s parents and teammates are calling for the removal of the coaches who ran the Arizona State University hockey workout that left their son on life support, while demands for an independent investigation remain unresolved.
John and Christina Mayich said Sept. 29 that players should be able to speak freely without fearing retaliation. Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell has pledged to review the ASU police investigation but has declined to launch a separate inquiry.
Seven players who attended the near-fatal Aug. 20 workout have challenged the university’s account, alleging Mayich received no water and showed distress before collapsing. State lawmakers also have asked for outside scrutiny.
Mayich, 21, remains at Barrow Neurological
Institute in Phoenix. Family attorney Robert Carey said his condition had not changed in more than a month and that he had no chance of recovery.
Here’s what to know about the players’ allegations, ASU’s findings and the requests for action.
What are Matthew Mayich’s parents asking for?
John and Christina Mayich said the coaches who ran the workout should be removed while an independent investigation proceeds.
“Nobody should keep quiet about what they think should happen because they believe that’s what we want,” they said in a Sept. 29 statement provided by their attorney.
Players should not have to worry about retaliation from people they report to every day, the parents said. They suggested former college and professional players in metro Phoenix could help lead the team.
The family previously asked for an outside law enforcement agency to take over the investigation because they said ASU can't investigate impartially, Carey said.
Will Rachel Mitchell launch a separate investigation?
Mitchell did not agree to open a separate criminal investigation. In a Sept. 25 letter to Carey, she said ASU police would submit its case to her office for review when the investigation concludes.
“While I cannot say that I will open an entirely new investigation,” Mitchell wrote, “what I can tell you is that we will make sure that we are satisfied that all appropriate investigative steps have been taken, and all evidence gathered.”
Mitchell said starting a separate investigation was not wise. She said she would forward Carey’s concerns to ASU police and asked him to encourage cooperation with investigators.
Separately, Rep. Matt Gress and Sen. Hildy Angius, chairs of Arizona’s House and Senate education committees, respectively asked the Arizona Board of Regents on Sept. 28 to appoint an independent investigator. They questioned whether ASU could adequately investigate its own staff.
What happened during the ASU hockey workout?
The Aug. 20 workout was the first session of a planned three-day team-building program involving ex-Green Beret Tim Ziesel, according to the players’ letter.
Ziesel directed exercises including pushups, planks, sprints and teammate carries, according to ASU’s preliminary timeline. All three hockey coaches and the team’s assigned athletic trainer attended.
Ziesel instructed players to complete a final run carrying medicine balls and left around 8:06 a.m., according to ASU. Mayich collapsed shortly before 8:30 a.m.
ASU’s account says Mayich struggled while running, stumbled, dropped the ball and fell. He tried to rise and fell again.
What are the seven ASU hockey players alleging?
In a 26-page letter sent Sept. 28 to ASU President Michael Crow, the players said the university’s preliminary account omitted critical details about the workout and Mayich’s condition.
Mayich appeared disoriented during earlier drills, struggled to stand and leaned on a teammate before the medicine-ball relay, they said. The workout continued after other players dropped to a knee or vomited, according to the letter.
The players also said exercises were used as punishment for mistakes or slow responses.
“This was not a team building session. This was to break men down. It was full of sarcasm and ridicule,” their attorney, Timothy Casey, told The Republic on Sept. 28.
ASU’s timeline says head coach Greg Powers directed a water break about 20 minutes into the workout and that players drank at other times. It does not specify whether Mayich drank water.
The seven players said the only water break came about 35 to 45 minutes into the workout and lasted seconds. Only some players who finished a bear-crawl exercise reached the bottles before being ordered back, they said.
Mayich was still crawling and received no water during the workout, according to their letter. The players said they could not leave formation to drink.
What did ASU’s preliminary review find?
ASU’s review, released publicly Sept. 22, showed that hockey coaches did not submit a training plan for review by strength and conditioning staff before the workout.
The report described staff treating Mayich with iced towels and water after he collapsed. ASU’s heat-illness guidelines called for a cold-water immersion tub to be prepared before an event for immediate use if needed.
ASU said Mayich arrived in Tempe eight days before the workout and participated in three earlier workouts, each including about 15 minutes outdoors. The players dispute the extent and nature of that preparation.
Ziesel’s authorization to conduct the workout is another issue. His attorney said Ziesel operated under a handshake agreement with Powers and other staff members without signing a contract.
Senior Vice President James Rund proposed an expert advisory panel to review outdoor athletics and the use of consultants. His preliminary report did not announce disciplinary measures.
What have Greg Powers and ASU said?
At a Sept. 23 news conference, Powers declined to answer questions about accountability for the workout or whether he had considered stepping aside.
“I believe that I am the right guy,” he said about continuing to lead the program.
The players’ letter alleges Powers minimized Mayich’s condition after the collapse, describing it as “just a little heat stroke” and saying Mayich “just needs an IV.”
In responses to requests for comment Sept. 28, university officials did not address the players’ letter or allegations.
Why are the players anonymous, and what do they want?
Casey said all seven players signed legal attestations confirming they were team members and attended the workout. They remain anonymous because they fear retaliation, he said.
The players said coaches control their playing time, scholarship levels and roster positions.
“We should not have to choose between telling the truth about August 20 and keeping what we have worked our whole lives for,” they wrote.
They asked Crow to place staff responsible for approving, conducting and supervising the workout on administrative leave pending an independent investigation. They also requested written findings on policy compliance, protections against retaliation and additional safety measures.
The players’ requests come ahead of ASU’s scheduled Oct. 2 season opener against Lindenwood in St. Charles, Missouri.
Robert Anglen is an investigative reporter for The Republic. Reach him at robert.anglen@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on X @robertanglen.
Rey Covarrubias Jr. is a reporter for The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com. Email him at: rcovarrubias@azcentral.com, and connect with him on Instagram, Threads, Bluesky and X at @ReyCJrAZ.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: ASU hockey collapse sparks demands from parents, teammates. See the latest
