Arizona State defenseman Matthew Mayich collapsed into a coma during a team workout last month, and his family’s attorney is now saying he has “zero chance of recovery.” This isn’t just a tragic incident; it’s a developing situation with vastly different accounts of what actually went down on August 20, the very first day of fall semester classes for the Sun Devils.
The Workout Details That Are Raising Serious Questions
Mayich, a sophomore who transferred from Clarkson this summer and was a 2023 NHL Draft pick by the St. Louis Blues, was participating in a team workout when he collapsed. Calls came in about a heat-related illness, which makes sense when you hear the temperature was reportedly between 87 and 89 degrees. Here’s where it gets wild: the workout was being run by an ex-Green Beret soldier named Tim Ziesel. Mayich’s attorney, Robert Carey, told the Arizona Republic that Ziesel was leading “grueling” drills and yelling at players “like a drill instructor” from the start. And get this, players were told not to complain, and water was only available for those who led exercises. Carey says Mayich was disoriented and struggled big time, showing “obvious signs of distress” well before he collapsed on the track. That just sounds like a recipe for disaster, doesn’t it?
Conflicting Stories and a Fight for the Truth
Ziesel, the ex-Green Beret, disputes Carey’s account. He told the Arizona Republic that he left the workout before Mayich collapsed, and that the drills were just like high school football conditioning, only resembling a military exercise in cadence and team-building. His attorney even chimed in, saying it was “not a Green Beret or SEAL workout, far from it,” and that head coach Greg Powers, assistant coaches, and medical staff were always present. Ziesel’s attorney added that he’s “devastated by what’s happened to this kid.” The university says it’s “reviewing everything.” But Mayich’s family isn’t buying any of it. Carey said they have “no faith” in the school’s investigation, claiming the university is pushing an unofficial narrative that the workout was “minimal, how soft and how easy.” Carey’s own investigation, he says, “shows the storyline is completely false.” This isn’t just about a workout anymore, it’s about a young man’s life shattered and a family demanding real answers.
An investigation is ongoing, but with Matthew Mayich having “zero chance of recovery,” according to his attorney, the stakes couldn’t be higher. This isn’t some minor league scuffle; this is a fight for justice, and for a family that deserves a proper, objective look at what truly happened.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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