ASU Report Details Hockey Player Collapse but Avoids Assigning Blame

Key points

• ASU released a review of the Aug. 20 workout that left hockey player Matthew Mayich, 21, in critical condition.
• The report details the timeline and conditions but assigns no individual blame, instead recommending a new advisory panel to review outdoor athletic practices and the use of outside consultants.
• The report notes that coaches did not submit the training plan to the strength and conditioning staff for review before the event.
• Mayich remains in the hospital in stable but critical condition, with his family’s attorney stating full recovery is unlikely.
• ASU Police are investigating the incident and will submit their findings to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.

Background

Matthew Mayich, a 21-year-old defenseman who transferred from Clarkson University and was drafted by the St. Louis Blues in 2023, collapsed during an outdoor team-building event on Aug. 20. He arrived in Tempe from Canada on Aug. 12, eight days prior. Previous reports indicated the workout was described as a 'punishment workout' by the family and involved militaristic methods led by a former Green Beret, Timothy Ziesel, who had no formal contract with ASU. The family has previously alleged that the session lasted over an hour with minimal water breaks and that ASU failed to follow its own heat and emergency protocols.

How outlets are covering it

The ASU review, conducted by Senior Vice President James Rund, focuses on procedural gaps, noting that coaches requested permission for Ziesel to speak to the team but did not submit the training plan to the strength and conditioning staff. It recommends a blue-ribbon advisory panel to review outdoor activities and outside consultants. In contrast, Leonard Aragon, the family’s attorney, argues the report ignores existing policies and fails to assign blame or result in disciplinary action. Aragon claims the workout was a 'punishment' session where players were forced to run again for missed counts, and that the lack of an emergency response plan worsened Mayich’s condition. Buddy Rake, Ziesel’s attorney, described the workout as a 'low-level, high school football workout' that was discussed with coaches and staff beforehand, and stated that Ziesel left before Mayich collapsed. KTAR News notes that the report does not specify when Ziesel left or how long the water breaks lasted, while AZFamily highlights that Mayich was on the field for over 80 minutes despite the coach claiming the session was cut short at 45 minutes.

Why it matters

The incident highlights significant gaps in ASU’s oversight of outside consultants and outdoor athletic activities, particularly regarding heat safety and emergency response protocols. The lack of disciplinary action despite policy violations has raised concerns about accountability and the safety of student-athletes. The case may set a precedent for how universities handle the vetting of external trainers and the management of high-intensity workouts in extreme weather conditions.

What to watch

ASU President Michael Crow is expected to establish a blue-ribbon advisory panel to recommend changes to Sun Devil practices and outdoor athletic activities. ASU Police will submit their investigation to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office. Head coach Greg Powers is scheduled to appear at a virtual news conference on Wednesday as part of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference’s preseason media days. The family’s attorney has indicated they will request an independent investigation from the County Attorney.