Seven Arizona State University hockey players have asked university president Michael Crow to place head coach Greg Powers and his staff on administrative leave. The request follows an August outdoor workout that left sophomore defenseman Matthew Mayich hospitalized on life support with severe brain damage.
The push for administrative leave centers on a 26-page letter delivered Monday to the university administration through attorney Timothy J. Casey. The players, who chose to remain anonymous out of concern for their standing in the program, contend that the coaching staff’s continued presence creates an environment where athletes cannot speak freely about the Aug. 20 training session.
According to the letter detailed by reporting, the athletes argue that cooperation with ongoing inquiries is compromised because the coaches involved dictate scholarships, playing time, and roster status. John and Christina Mayich, the player’s parents, supported that position through their attorney, stating that accountability and player safety require the staff to step aside while an independent review is conducted.
Disputed Accounts of the August 20 Workout at Sun Angel Stadium
The friction between the roster and the administration escalated after Arizona State released a preliminary internal review on Sept. 21. That initial university report found no wrongdoing and indicated that proper procedures were followed during the conditioning session.
The seven players strongly dispute those findings. Their letter states that the grueling outdoor conditioning session at Sun Angel Stadium lasted approximately 75 minutes of continuous exertion under extreme heat.
The workout was led by Tim Ziesel, a former U.S. Army Green Beret brought in to help the team build physical resilience following a difficult season.
The first of us to finish had a few seconds at the bottles before being ordered back while others, including Matthew, were still crawling. This was the only water break.
Anonymous Arizona State hockey players, via The Athletic
Medical Fallout and the Demand for an Independent Investigation
Matthew Mayich, a 21-year-old transfer student from Hamilton, Ontario, who was drafted 170th overall by the St. Louis Blues in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, collapsed near the conclusion of the drills. Family attorney Rob Carey stated that Mayich suffered a severe exertional heat stroke that restricted oxygen flow to his brain.
The players’ letter alleges that Mayich showed clear signs of distress early in the session, including disorientation during bear crawls, but that no one at ASU properly monitored him or intervened before he collapsed. Furthermore, the athletes state that Mayich was left in direct sunlight for several minutes until teammates carried him into the shade.
The Arizona State University Police Department is conducting an ongoing criminal and administrative inquiry into the incident. Once finished, that investigative file will be forwarded to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office for independent review.
A Season Opener Approaches Amid Administrative Standoff
The controversy creates an unprecedented challenge for the Sun Devils as they prepare to open their 2026–27 regular season against Lindenwood University in Missouri.
John and Christina Mayich emphasized in their statement that their focus remains on truth, accountability, and the well-being of the remaining student-athletes.
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.
John and Christina Mayich, via Arizona’s Family
The family continues to seek a transparent resolution to the matter while advocating for the safety and support of the other student-athletes involved in the program.
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