ASU investigates workout after hockey player collapses
Arizona State University is looking into a rigorous team workout that incapacitated hockey player Matthew Mayich. Family attorney Rob Carey discussed the situation on ‘Fox & Friends First,’ urging for accountability from the athletic department.
Seven players from the Arizona State Sun Devils have sent a letter to the university president requesting the head coach, Greg Powers, and his staff be placed on administrative leave. This letter, sent through an attorney, comes after a demanding workout in August left a teammate on life support and in a coma.
These players, who remain anonymous out of fear of retaliation from Powers, refuted the university’s initial review of the August 20 workout that resulted in Mayich’s collapse. They claim it found that Mayich lacked adequate hydration and medical attention post-collapse.
The letter’s authors expressed concerns about their coaches still being in their roles, stating, “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 described the workout as “grueling,” led by a former U.S. Army Green Beret. While the university’s review noted a water break around 20 minutes into the session, the players disagreed, asserting that they only received a brief break approximately 40 minutes into the 75-minute workout, during which only a few could hydrate.
“The first to finish barely had a moment to drink before being told to return to the drill while others, including Matthew, were still struggling,” their letter claimed. Additionally, they noted that the ex-Green Beret admitted to forgetting about the need for water breaks.
The group indicated that Mayich exhibited signs of difficulty early in the workout, becoming disoriented during one of the exercises and struggling with another task requiring teamwork.
Moreover, they asserted that when Mayich collapsed, he was exposed to direct sunlight for several minutes, contradicting the university’s report which claimed he sat upright twice. Instead, they stated that his teammates had to carry him to shade.
Cooling options were limited, with towels, water bottles, and a garden hose available in the harsh Arizona heat. Players also mentioned that Mayich typically did not handle the heat well during workouts, preferring to stay in an air-conditioned environment.
Previously, Powers had been asked about the incident but refrained from commenting, spotlighting the ongoing struggle within the program. Players noted that Powers had initially downplayed Mayich’s condition to them, suggesting it was merely “a little heat stroke.”
The players conveyed, “From what we could tell, at no point did Coach Powers seem to appreciate the severity of the situation.” As the Sun Devils gear up for their 2026–27 season opener against Lindenwood, the investigation unfolds.
