The parents of Arizona State hockey player Matthew Mayich are pulling no punches, publicly calling for the immediate removal of the coaches involved in his tragic August 20 collapse.
The First Day of Official Activities Turned Into a Nightmare
Matthew Mayich, a 21-year-old defenseman with big league dreams, even drafted by the St. Louis Blues, collapsed during an outdoor workout. Get this: it was the *very first day* the NCAA allows official activities! His family attorney, Rob Carey, didn’t mince words either, confirming Matthew suffered from external heat stroke. That nightmare scenario reduced oxygen flow to his brain, and Carey has stated Matthew is now, heartbreakingly, unlikely to recover. John and Christina Mayich, Matthew’s parents, released a statement through Carey on Tuesday, and they are making their position absolutely crystal clear.
Players Are Speaking Up, But They’re Scared
This isn’t just a family’s desperate plea, though. Seven other Arizona State hockey players, completely anonymous because they are terrified of retribution from the very coaching staff they’re meant to trust every single day, shot off a letter to university president Michael Crow on Monday. They are backing the Mayichs’ demand, asking for the coaches tied to that August 20 workout to be placed on administrative leave until a full, independent investigation by an *outside agency* gets to the bottom of this. And get this: the players’ letter even called out “discrepancies” from an initial probe by Arizona State. So, the players themselves are saying the first look wasn’t good enough, or worse, wasn’t honest. This team is literally asking for an interim coaching staff if these coaches get sidelined. That’s how much they want this handled properly.
The Heat Is On: Investigations Are Mounting
The heat is definitely on. The Arizona State police department is actively investigating the incident, and their report is slated for independent review by the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office once it’s complete. Even the big wigs in Arizona’s House and Senate education committee chairs are now demanding their own independent investigation into Arizona State’s hockey workout, all because they read that letter from the players. The Mayichs want their son’s team to have a great season, and they plan to be there cheering, but their priorities are absolutely spot on: “We want the truth, and we want it done in a way that lets the boys focus on hockey instead of wondering whether their coaches think they talked. Mostly, we want accountability for what happened to our son, and we want his teammates to be safe.” This isn’t just about one family; it’s about holding power accountable and ensuring no other athlete faces this kind of danger or silence.
The demand for truth and accountability is ringing through Tempe right now. With both law enforcement and state legislators now involved, the university can’t sweep this under the rug. What happened to Matthew Mayich is a tragedy, and his parents, along with his teammates, are standing firm. Everyone is watching to see if justice will be served, and if these athletes can finally focus on hockey, free from fear.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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