Arizona State University hockey players started their season with yellow ribbons and the number "27" on their helmets.
It's Matthew Mayich's number. The 21-year-old defenseman collapsed during an outdoor team workout Aug. 20. He is on life support at Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, and family attorney Robert Carey says he has no chance of recovery.
His younger sister, cousin and parents remain at his side. Within days of his collapse, the family started an online rosary where supporters can pray for him every day. They've prayed a rosary for him for over 50 days as of Oct. 11.
But while the prayers continue, so do the questions. Seven weeks later, they still outnumber the answers. Who approved the workout? Why did no one stop it? What
happened to the coach's phone?
ASU’s preliminary report assigned no responsibility, and players who attended the workout said the report left out some of its worst moments. Since then, the fallout has reached the hockey staff. Head coach Greg Powers is on paid leave, athletic trainer Amanda Doyle has been reassigned to another sport and assistant coach Alex Hicks missed the team's home-opening series. ASU has not said whether any of the moves are disciplinary.
As the case unfolded, Mayich’s family pressed ASU for answers, an investigation independent of the university and the removal of staff members who oversaw the workout.
Multiple reviews remain underway. Here are key moments showing how the case has unfolded since Aug. 20.
Aug. 20: Matthew Mayich collapses during an ASU hockey workout
Arizona State University hockey player Matthew Mayich collapsed during an Aug. 20 outdoor team workout at ASU's Tempe campus on the first day of fall classes.
His family's attorney says he suffered exertional heatstroke. Ex-Green Beret Tim Ziesel led the military-style workout at the invitation of head coach Greg Powers, but had left before Mayich collapsed.
Aug. 27: An ex-Green Beret’s role in the workout is revealed
ASU initially declined to name the player or say what happened. The Arizona Republic identified Mayich on Aug. 25 and reported two days later that Ziesel had led the workout.
Buddy Rake, Ziesel’s attorney, described the workout as moderate and said coaches and medical staff were present. Athletic director Graham Rossini said the following day that the university’s review had not indicated that “something went wrong.”
Sept. 4: ASU’s heat-safety response comes under scrutiny
The Republic reported that ASU appeared not to have followed its own rules for preventing and treating exertional heat illness.
Mayich had recently arrived from Canada and had completed limited outdoor training before the workout. After he collapsed, staff used wet or iced towels rather than immediately immersing him in cold water, as university guidelines recommended.
Both issues later appeared in ASU’s preliminary findings.
Sept. 15: The outside instructor’s approval comes into question
The Republic reported that Ziesel had not completed ASU’s required vetting process or signed standard forms before leading the workout.
His attorney said he worked under a handshake agreement with Powers and other members of the hockey staff. The arrangement raised new questions about who approved the workout and how it reached the field.
Sept. 22: ASU released preliminary findings
A preliminary report by ASU Senior Vice President James Rund found that coaches did not submit a training plan for review and that Ziesel did not complete required vetting.
The report, which was publicly released on Sept. 22, said Mayich had completed about 45 minutes of outdoor workouts before Aug. 20. It also said staff cooled him with iced towels rather than using the cold-water immersion called for in ASU’s heat-illness guidelines.
The report did not identify anyone responsible. Robert Carey, Mayich's family attorney, called it a “whitewash.”
Sept. 28: Mayich's ASU teammates dispute university's account of collapse
Seven hockey players who attended the workout challenged the university’s version in a 26-page letter to ASU President Michael Crow.
They said the workout lasted 75 minutes, Mayich received no water and coaches ignored signs that he was in distress. The players remained anonymous because they feared retaliation.
The same day, two state lawmakers asked the Arizona Board of Regents to appoint an independent investigator.
Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell declined to open a separate investigation but said her office would review the ASU police case and ensure appropriate investigative steps were taken.
Sept. 30: Head coach placed on paid leave
ASU placed Powers, head coach of the Sun Devils hockey team, on paid administrative leave.
Assistant coach Mike Corbett, who was also present during the Aug. 20 workout, was chosen to lead the team as its season began. The Republic reported that Corbett had two prior misdemeanor drunken-driving convictions, including one in Scottsdale in 2024, months after ASU hired him.
The Mayich family and the players said the decision to remove Powers was a first step but said other coaches and staff members who attended the workout should also be removed during the investigation.
U.S. Sens. Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego called for an independent investigation.
Oct. 2: Sun Devils hockey plays 1st game and ASU hires outside investigator
ASU hired retired Arizona Supreme Court Chief Justice Scott Bales to conduct an independent review of the workout and the university’s safety practices.
The Mayich family questioned whether his mandate was broad enough to determine who violated the rules and who was responsible.
Hours later, the Sun Devils opened their season without Mayich or Powers, defeating Lindenwood 5-0 in Missouri. Mayich’s No. 27 jersey hung in the locker room, and players wore helmet decals honoring him.
Oct. 5-8: More hockey team personnel changes
On Oct. 5, ASU confirmed that athletic trainer Amanda Doyle, who was present during the workout, had been reassigned to another sport.
Three days later, the university said assistant coach Alex Hicks would not be with the team for its home opener.
Players had described Hicks as Powers' "enforcer." Both were on the field Aug. 20.
Oct. 9: Family demands evidence preserved
In a letter made public Oct. 9, an attorney for the Mayich family said Powers may have replaced the cellphone he used during the workout. The letter demanded to know where the original device was and whether its data was preserved. ASU had not responded.
That night, ASU played its home opener against Holy Cross at Mullett Arena, next to the track where Mayich collapsed. Mayich's jersey hung in his locker room stall, and fans wore yellow ribbons marked "MM27."
The Arizona Republic's Robert Anglen, Jenna Ortiz and Michelle Gardner contributed to this article.
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 (formerly Twitter) at @ReyCJrAZ.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: A timeline of ASU’s response to Matthew Mayich’s collapse
