Parents of hospitalized Arizona State hockey player call for coaches to be placed on leave

Key Points:

• Matthew Mayich, an Arizona State University hockey player, collapsed from heatstroke during a summer workout and remains hospitalized with no chance of recovery, prompting his parents to demand coaches involved be placed on leave pending an independent investigation.
• Seven anonymous players from the team also called for coaches to be placed on administrative leave, disputing ASU’s internal report and alleging unsafe workout conditions, lack of adherence to university policies, and fear of retaliation from coaching staff.
• The players claim the temperature and humidity during the workout were higher than reported, breaks were insufficient, emergency gear was absent, and the Army veteran leading the exercises left before Mayich collapsed, leaving only ASU staff to supervise.
• ASU’s initial report detailed immediate medical response by an athletic trainer, but players and family lawyers criticize the report’s accuracy and the handling of the incident, with calls from state education officials for an independent investigation into ASU’s conduct.
• Head coach Greg Powers declined to answer specific questions about the incident but expressed thoughts and prayers for Mayich, while efforts to reach him for further comment were unsuccessful.