Arizona State Hockey Players Dispute School's Account of Teammate's Collapse, Demand Investigation

Seven current players on the Arizona State University hockey team have formally requested that university president Michael Crow place the coaching staff on administrative leave and initiate an independent investigation into the August 20 workout that led to player Matthew Mayich being placed on life support. The players' allegations, detailed in a 26-page letter obtained by media outlets, contest the findings of ASU's internal review.

The letter disputes the university's account of the workout, specifically regarding hydration and medical response after Mayich collapsed. The players claim that Mayich did not receive adequate hydration during the strenuous exercise and that the subsequent medical care was insufficient. According to the letter, head coach Greg Powers allegedly downplayed the severity of Mayich's condition to the team, reportedly stating that Mayich had only suffered a "little head stroke" and required an IV.

The players sent the letter anonymously through their attorney, Tim Casey, citing fear of retaliation from Powers and his staff. The letter states that other teammates also wished to share their experiences but were deterred by similar concerns about professional repercussions. "We should not have to choose between telling the truth about August 20 and keeping what we have worked our whole lives for," the players wrote.

Mayich, who transferred to ASU from Clarkson University, collapsed during a preseason workout conducted by ex-Green Beret Tim Ziesel. His family's attorney, Rob Carey, explained that Mayich suffered exertional heat stroke, leading to a lack of oxygen to his brain, and had no pre-existing medical conditions.

ASU's internal review acknowledged that the coaching staff had not properly vetted the training plan for the workout but did not assign responsibility or detail accountability measures. The players' letter, however, directly refutes key points of the review. They challenge the timeline of water breaks, asserting that it occurred 35 to 45 minutes into the roughly 75-minute workout, not 20 minutes as stated by the university. Furthermore, the players allege that only the first eight finishers of a specific drill received water during this break.

"Matthew showed signs of distress earlier, in the bear crawl and the buddy carry, well before the medicine ball task during which he collapsed," the letter states. "At the talk before the final event he was struggling to stand and leaning on a teammate, in front of Ziesel, the coaches, and the trainer. No one at ASU properly monitored him during the workout and no one intervened."

Players also stated that Mayich remained in direct sunlight for an extended period before being moved to shade. They claim that essential equipment such as a cold water immersion tub or ice chest, which they say is a university policy requirement, was absent from the training area.

Following the ambulance's departure with Mayich, the letter alleges that Powers told the team they were "closer to making the Frozen Four because of the workout and Matthew having pushed himself to the maximum." The following day, Powers reportedly informed the team that Mayich would recover, and practice continued. The players wrote, "From what we could tell, at no point did Coach Powers seem to appreciate the severity of the situation."

The letter also contested the university's characterization of Mayich's acclimation process, stating that he had participated in outdoor workouts the prior week that included shorter durations in the sun and regular breaks with access to water and climate-controlled rooms.

"The athletic department, the compliance office and the administration should have produced this report. Instead, the players did," Rob Carey told ESPN. "Much of what the players describe is new to us, and it is far worse than we knew."

The players are seeking written confirmation from the university that their scholarships, playing time, or roster spots will not be jeopardized by their participation in any investigation. They are requesting that this investigation be conducted by an independent agency.