Disturbing alleged details have emerged about the collapse and subsequent hospitalization of Arizona State University hockey player Matthew Mayich.
Mayich, 21, suffered a heat stroke during an outdoor, military-style workout on August 20. The athlete has remained in the hospital since, with his attorney, Robert Carey, saying he has “zero chance of recovery.”
The minutes before Mayich’s collapse are laid out in detail in a story published by The Athletic on Thursday, September 17. The outlet spoke to 12 people either present at the team workout or who were briefed about it.
In the early stages of the nearly hour-long session, which was organized and run by former Green Beret Tim Ziesel, Mayich reportedly “seemed disoriented” during a bear crawl.
“When he stood, he almost collapsed before he caught himself by straightening his legs,” the story alleged.
Later, when players were instructed to perform a fireman’s carry across the width of the field, Mayich noticeably did not carry his partner back.
During one of the final parts of the workout, players were tasked with carrying a medicine ball during a relay.
“As he approached the other side of the field, he stumbled and dropped the medicine ball,” The Athletic reported. “Mayich crumpled to the ground. He tried to stand and collapsed again. Mayich tried once more to get up, then collapsed for the last time.”
The report continued, “One player screamed for someone to help Mayich. An assistant coach shouted similar directions. Teammates sprinted to him and found him lying on the ground, incoherent and distressed, unable to respond to questions. He stayed in the sun for several minutes before four players carried him into the shade, holding his legs out and keeping him upright. One player tried sitting back-to-back with him to keep him upright.”
Arizona State players attended a vigil for Mayich at the hospital on September 3, but head coach Greg Powers was not present. Powers, 49, appeared to delete his social media accounts and has not issued a statement about the Mayich incident.
“There’s always that fear there are going to be repercussions coming back to you because the hockey world is so small,” a former ASU player told The Athletic anonymously. “If you haven’t been in a high-intensity locker room with a coach like that, no one would truly understand.”
Arizona State is scheduled to open the season on October 2 against Lindenwood.
A spokesperson for the university previously addressed the team’s controversial training in a statement to Us, noting, “The morning outdoor workout was a team event at which coaches and training staff were present along with a third party who had previously worked with the ASU Hockey team.”
“Sun Devil Athletics also has heat-illness guidelines in place; these guidelines are informed by the National Athletic Trainers’ Association,” the statement added. “SDA student-athletes regularly practice and train outside, under coach and trainer supervision.”
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