ASU Says Hockey Workout Plan Was Not Submitted for Review Before Mayich Collapse
An initial university report says the team requested an outside consultant but did not submit its training activities to strength coaches before the Aug. 20 workout.
Arizona State hockey staff did not submit a plan of training activities for review by university strength and conditioning coaches before an Aug. 20 workout in which player Matthew Mayich collapsed, according to an initial ASU report released Tuesday.
The university says the hockey staff asked for Timothy Ziesel to participate in a three-day team-building event. The staff did not submit the activities to ASU strength coaches for review. Ziesel, a former Army special forces member, had spoken to the hockey team about leadership earlier in 2026 and had no contract with the school, according to ASU’s timeline.
ASU said temperatures during the outdoor workout ranged from 86 to 89 degrees Fahrenheit, with relative humidity between 46 and 51 percent. Three hockey coaches and an athletic trainer were present. The university’s account says players did calisthenics and running, and that water breaks were taken. Ziesel left after describing a final run carrying medicine balls; Mayich collapsed during that exercise.
The report says the trainer applied iced towels and cool water when Mayich fell. The trainer called 911 after his condition worsened and continued cooling him while awaiting emergency responders. The university cautioned that its review is ongoing and may uncover different information.
Mayich remains hospitalized in critical condition, ESPN reported. Family attorney Rob Carey told ESPN that Mayich suffered exertional heat stroke and is unlikely to recover. Carey disputed ASU’s account of the workout, calling it a punishment exercise in which groups had to repeat runs for missed counts. Ziesel’s attorney, Buddy Rake, previously characterized the session as comparable to a moderate high-school preseason workout. Those competing descriptions have not been resolved by the initial university report.
ASU said its police department is separately investigating the incident and will send its completed report to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office for independent review. The university also plans to convene a panel to recommend practices for outdoor athletic activities and the use of outside consultants.
