Matthew Mayich remains in a coma as Jim Montgomery's Blues watch a disturbing situation around their prospect grow far more serious.
The 21-year-old defenseman collapsed during an outdoor Arizona State hockey workout on August 20 and remains hospitalized in critical condition. His family's attorney, Robert Carey, is now challenging the university's handling of the case.
Carey has called for members of Arizona State's coaching staff to be placed on administrative leave while the circumstances surrounding the workout are examined.
His criticism centers on both the workout itself and what he believes has been an inadequate response since Mayich collapsed.
Carey said information gathered through his own investigation paints a much different picture from the version being presented publicly, describing that account as a “false narrative.”
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The workout reportedly included sprints, planks, pushups and bear crawls. Players who fell behind or missed instructions were reportedly required to complete extra exercises.
Questions grow around Arizona State workout after Matthew Mayich's collapse
Tim Ziesel, a former military service member who was not an Arizona State employee, reportedly led the session. His attorney has disputed claims that the workout was unusually difficult.
Carey strongly disagrees. He characterized the session as “grueling, onerous and dangerous” while continuing to press Arizona State for greater accountability.
Conditions have also become part of the scrutiny. Temperatures in Tempe had reached 86 degrees with 51 percent humidity shortly before 7 a.m. that morning.
Tempe Fire Medical Rescue crews were dispatched to Sun Angel Stadium at 8:31 a.m. for a heat-related illness call involving Mayich.
Arizona State athletic director Graham Rossini has described the school's process as a review of the facts rather than an investigation. Carey wants a more independent examination of what occurred.
For the Blues, hockey has become secondary. Mayich was selected 170th overall in the sixth round of the 2023 NHL Draft and was preparing to join Arizona State after playing his freshman season at Clarkson University.
The focus now remains entirely on Mayich and his family as questions surrounding the workout, supervision and Arizona State's response continue to mount.
Should Arizona State place its hockey staff on leave during the investigation?
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