Newly released footage has provided the public with a closer look at the Arizona State hockey workout that preceded defenseman Matthew Mayich’s medical emergency on Aug. 20.
Mayich, a 21-year-old defenseman and St. Louis Blues draft pick, collapsed during an outdoor team workout at Sun Angel Stadium and was subsequently hospitalized. His family’s attorneys have said he remains in critical condition and that his chances of recovery are extremely limited.
The video, obtained by Arizona’s Family, shows portions of the workout and has added another layer to the questions surrounding the session and the circumstances leading up to Mayich’s collapse.
New Footage Puts Workout Under Spotlight
The Aug. 20 session was part of a planned three-day team-building event for the Sun Devils. According to Arizona State’s review, the workout involved running, pushups, planks and other conditioning exercises.
The university’s report said temperatures during the session were between 86 and 89 degrees Fahrenheit, with humidity ranging from 46% to 51%. Mayich collapsed near the end of the workout after appearing to struggle while completing an exercise.
Mayich’s family has described the incident differently in some respects. Their attorneys have alleged that the workout was excessively demanding and raised concerns about hydration, heat-safety procedures and the way the session was supervised. Those allegations remain part of the broader investigation and have been disputed or characterized differently by accounts from the university.
Questions Surround the Training Session
Arizona State’s preliminary review identified several issues involving how the workout was organized.
The hockey coaching staff had requested permission for Timothy Ziesel, a former Green Beret who had previously spoken with the team about leadership, to participate in the team-building event. However, the coaching staff did not submit a detailed training plan to the university’s strength and conditioning department for review before the Aug. 20 workout.
The report also stated that Ziesel did not have a formal contract with Arizona State for the event.
The university has said its review is separate from the police investigation into the circumstances surrounding Mayich’s collapse.
Meanwhile, Mayich’s family has called for an independent investigation. Their attorney recently asked the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office to investigate and preserve evidence connected to the workout, including video, photographs, communications, training records and medical documentation.
Coach Greg Powers Declines Questions
Arizona State head coach Greg Powers has also addressed the situation publicly.
During a National Collegiate Hockey Conference media event, Powers said he would not answer questions about Mayich’s collapse because of the ongoing investigation, describing the situation as an extremely difficult period for everyone connected with the program.
For now, the newly surfaced footage is likely to remain an important piece of evidence as investigators and the university continue examining what happened that morning.
Mayich’s condition remains the central concern, while questions surrounding the planning, supervision and safety procedures of the workout continue to receive scrutiny.
