Criminal investigation reveals horrific details of what Matthew Mayich endured before collapse

Arizona State University's hockey program has been thrown into crisis since August 20, when 21-year-old defenseman Matthew Mayich collapsed during a preseason outdoor workout in the Phoenix heat. But as a criminal investigation now unfolds alongside the university's own internal review, the emerging details paint an increasingly troubling picture of what the St. Louis Blues prospect was forced to endure that morning.

According to the Mayich family's attorney, Phoenix lawyer Robert Carey, the Canadian native had been in the Phoenix area for no more than five days before being sent into a military-style training session led by a former Green Beret who is not employed by the university. That timeline could represent a violation of ASU's own heat acclimatization policy, which calls for athletes to be gradually exposed to extreme conditions over seven to 14 days.

The workout reportedly lasted roughly 50 to 60 minutes and included sprints, push-ups, flutter kicks, bear crawls, and carrying teammates. Players described being yelled at from the start like recruits in basic training. They were told not to complain, and water was reportedly only available to those leading the exercises, leaving others with little to drink.

Critically, Carey said Mayich showed visible signs of distress well before he went down. "He was disoriented and struggled well before he collapsed," Carey stated.

Weather data from that morning showed temperatures between 87 and 89 degrees with roughly 50 percent humidity by 8 a.m., conditions that met or exceeded the "high" threshold on the university's own heat-stress index. Under those conditions, ASU guidelines stipulate that only fit and fully acclimatized athletes should participate, and even then with extreme caution.

When Mayich did collapse near the end of the session, he was not immediately placed in a cold water immersion tub, which ASU's own exertional heat illness policy identifies as the first line of treatment. Instead, according to Carey, he was left on the ground for several minutes. "They didn't have any cooling plan in place," Carey said.

Tempe Fire Medical Rescue arrived at 8:30 a.m. Within minutes, first responders radioed a nearby hospital to prepare for a serious heat emergency. Mayich was eventually transferred to Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix.

The update on his condition has been devastating. Carey indicated that describing Mayich as being in a coma is no longer accurate. "A coma indicates deep unconsciousness and recovery is possible," Carey said. "His body ceased functioning in a fundamental way, and this condition is irreversible."

The ASU Police Department has opened a formal criminal investigation into whether any wrongdoing occurred, separate from the university's internal review. Two individuals with knowledge of the probe confirmed that officers have already begun reaching out to players for interviews.

Tim Ziesel, the former Green Beret who led the session, has said through his attorney Buddy Rake that the workout was not extreme and resembled a team-building exercise rather than a military drill. Carey dismissed that characterization as "fictional."

Meanwhile, Carey has raised concerns that coaches and staff involved in the workout continue to oversee players, and that no effort has been made to separate witnesses from those under scrutiny. Players reportedly fear retaliation, including loss of scholarships or roster spots, if they speak out.

Mayich, a sophomore defenseman from Stoney Creek, Ontario, transferred to ASU after a strong freshman campaign at Clarkson University. He was selected by the St. Louis Blues in the sixth round of the 2023 NHL Draft.

His family continues to hold daily prayer vigils as the investigation intensifies and questions about accountability, player safety protocols, and the university's response grow louder by the day.