Parents of college hockey player who collapsed during workout want coaches put on leave

TEMPE, Ariz. (AZFamily/Gray News) - The parents of an Arizona State University hockey player who collapsed during a team workout last month and is unlikely to fully recover are calling for the coaches to be removed amid the investigation.

Matthew Mayich, a sophomore defenseman from Ontario, Canada, collapsed on Aug. 20 during an outdoor workout in Tempe, Arizona. The 21-year-old is still in the hospital and unlikely to fully recover, according to his family’s attorney.

In a statement provided on Tuesday through their attorney, Mayich’s parents, John and Christina, said they want the coaches involved in the workout removed during the investigation over concerns of possible retaliation.

“The coaches who ran that workout on August 20 need to be removed while an independent investigation gets to the truth. The players shouldn’t have to worry about retaliation from the people they report to every day,” the statement read in part.

Mayich’s parents said they want the truth and accountability for what happened to their son.

The full statement is below:

“We’ve heard some things about what our family wants that aren’t right, so we want to be clear. We want this team to have a great season, and we’ll be cheering for you. But the coaches who ran that workout on August 20 need to be removed while an independent investigation gets to the truth. The players shouldn’t have to worry about retaliation from the people they report to every day. And there are plenty of former college and pro players in the Valley who could step in and help.

“Nobody should keep quiet about what they think should happen because they believe that’s what we want. It isn’t. If anyone wants to know what we want, ask us. We want the truth, and we want it done in a way that lets the boys focus on hockey instead of wondering whether their coaches think they talked.

“Mostly, we want accountability for what happened to our son, and we want his teammates to be safe.”

Players challenge ASU’s report on workout

The statement comes a day after seven anonymous players sent a letter to ASU President Michael Crow challenging the university’s report on what happened the day Mayich collapsed.

The players’ letter claims former Green Beret Timothy Ziesel, who led the workout, was brought in with no background check or safety certifications. It was originally described as a team-building exercise, but in reality, it was a “military-style conditioning session,” players said.

The anonymous players reported that the only water break given lasted seconds, and only eight players got water. Mayich reportedly was not among them.

They said the workout continued even when some began falling to their knees and vomiting.

Like Mayich’s parents, the players are calling for the coaching staff to be placed on leave. They also asked that the investigation be turned over to an outside agency.

Trainer’s attorney pushes back on players’ account

Ziesel’s attorney, Buddy Rake, is pushing back on players’ accounts of the workout, saying no players vomited or were denied water.

He also said that Ziesel couldn’t have denied water to players since “he didn’t determine water breaks.” He added that water breaks were determined by coaching staff and based on the university’s hydration policy.

“The workout was not punishing unless you consider flutter kicks, pushups, planks, and sprints punishing,” said Rake in an emailed statement to Arizona’s Family. “Have you ever seen a D1 preseason workout?”

Rake explained that ASU’s hydration policy requires trainers to supervise pre-hydration requirements. Before exercise, he said ASU athletes under supervision are required to hydrate at least four hours prior and drink 8 to 12 fluid ounces about 10 to 15 minutes before starting the exercise.

The lawyer added that he has emails from a coach stating that Mayich didn’t show signs of struggle until after Ziesel left. During the workout, there were six coaches and trainers present, according to Rake.

“As Tim’s [Ziesel’s] attorney, I continue to be of the opinion that the family and parents of Matthew receive complete transparency. Instead of focusing on a non-existent hard workout, the focus should be on how could this happen during a workout that was not as hard as an average D1 conditioning program,” Rake said.

“There is not a definition of a military workout,” he added.

Rake claimed that Mayich’s case went off track by “trying to find blame before facts were known.” In his emailed statement, he listed questions about the case, including:

• What qualifies as a “military-style” workout?
• What conditioning was actually provided?
• Was water available and would it have made a difference?
• What was the temperature in Canada where Matthew was training beforehand?
• What kind of physical condition was Mayich in when he arrived in Arizona?
• What activities did Mayich participate in leading up to the incident?

ASU police are investigating the circumstances of the workout. They will submit their report to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office for review.