Arizona State hockey players send letter to school president about teammate’s collapse

Mayich, a defenseman who was drafted by the St. Louis Blues, collapsed during an outdoor workout on the first day the NCAA allows teams to hold formal activities. He remains hospitalized and his family’s attorney has said the 21-year-old is unlikely to recover after suffering exertional heat stroke that reduced flow of oxygen to his brain.

The Arizona State police department is investigating the incident and a report will be sent to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office for independent review when completed.

Arizona’s House and Senate education committee chairs called for an independent investigation of Arizona State’s hockey workout after reading the letter from the players.

“Seven players who were on that field have raised serious questions that ASU’s own review does not answer,” House education committee chairman Matt Gress said. “We need an independent investigation to determine whether ASU followed its own rules, who was responsible for protecting these athletes, and what happened when Matthew Mayich showed signs of distress. ASU should not be left to investigate its own conduct and decide whether anyone should be held accountable.”

Arizona State’s initial report showed ASU hockey coaches were present during the workout, but plans for the training session were not submitted to the school.

The players’ letter claims multiple parts of ASU exertional heat policy were not followed before and after Mayich collapsed, including progressive acclimatization to Arizona’s heat, frequent rest periods and access to fluids whenever needed.

The letter said the workout was 75 minutes of constant exertion and only the players who did well at the task were allowed a break for liquids. Mayich was not among the players who were allowed to hydrate, it said.

The letter said Mayich appeared to be disoriented much earlier than the ASU report said and was not properly cooled before paramedics arrived. It also said coach Greg Powers downplayed the severity of Mayich’s condition, telling players he had “just a little heat stroke” and told the players he would be fine before practice the next day.

The players called for the staff responsible for approving, conducting and supervising the session be placed on administrative leave and name an interim coaching staff. It also called for the investigation to be referred to an agency outside of the university.

“An interim staff would allow the investigation to be completed and the players to be heard, without asking players to put their scholarships, roster positions, and playing time at risk in order to be heard,” the letter said. “It is not fair to require that.”

The Blues drafted Mayich in the sixth round of the 2023 NHL draft, but he never signed an entry-level contract. The Stoney Creek, Ontario, native played four seasons with the Ottawa 67’s of the Ontario Hockey League before playing at Clarkson University last season.

Mayich transferred to Arizona State for the upcoming season.

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John Marshall, The Associated Press

by The Canadian Press

Arizona State hockey players send letter to school president about teammate’s collapse

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