It was on August 20, at the end of one of the team's first physical sessions of the season, that 21-year-old player Matthew Mayich suddenly collapsed during a practice.
The player had suffered from heatstroke, which led to a lack of oxygen in the brain. He was taken to hospital, where he is now in a coma.
According to the Mayich family's lawyer Rob Carey, it is not likely that Matthew Mayich, who was selected by the St. Louis Blues in the sixth round of the NHL draft in 2023, will recover, writes The Athletic.
The university investigated the incident, but the investigation's conclusions are now being criticized by parts of the playing squad who believe it is an attempt to sweep serious shortcomings under the carpet.
In a letter to the school's principal, sent by seven anonymous players, they write, among other things, that Matthew Mayich was not given any water to drink despite the investigation claiming so, and that the care Mayich received immediately after the collapse was inadequate.
The August training is said to have been carried out in the middle of the day in over 30-degree heat, where the humidity made the perceived temperature even higher. The players write that the first and only water break came after about 40 minutes, and that only the players who had finished an exercise first got a chance to drink. Matthew Mayich was not one of them.
The current practice was not led by the team's longtime coach Greg Powers, but by a former military man. The players who did not manage to complete the physically demanding exercises must have been punished with extra tasks.
According to the university's investigation, Mayich showed no signs of feeling unwell before he collapsed, but the players write that is not true. According to teammates, he became increasingly disoriented, and so exhausted that he could not carry a teammate during a practice. While the ex-military was instructing before the last exercise, Mayich had to lean on a teammate to be able to stand up.
According to the players, Matthew Mayich's lips were gray when they reached him after the collapse. He was initially able to answer questions but then lost consciousness. There should not have been ice packs or any ice baths available, but only spray bottles of water and towels.
"It does not appear that the staff had received sufficient training in detecting or treating heat stroke," write the players, who state that Mayich was left out in the sun for several minutes, and also was made upright despite the fact that it can reduce blood flow to the brain.
In the letter, the players also question head coach Greg Power's behavior following the incident. The coach is said to have downplayed Mayich's condition. Powers also said the next day that he was told the good news that Mayich will be fine, even though that is not true.
The players asked the principal to suspend Greg Powers - which has since also happened according to several media outlets - and also to appoint an external investigation. According to the letter, many in the team will share their picture but did not want to sign the letter, as they are worried about reprisals if they speak out against the official picture, writes The Athletic.
"The head coach and his assistant coaches were all on the field on August 20 /…/ together they decide on our playing time, scholarship levels and status in the squad," the players write.
"We shouldn't have to choose between telling the truth about August 20 and keeping what we've worked for all our lives."
Arizona State University plays in the top league for college ice hockey. The league organization NCHC writes in a statement that they support the school's decision to suspend the coach, reports ESPN.
"The concerns raised by the players deserve to be heard and carefully reviewed. Ice hockey is very close to our organization's heart, but the well-being of our student-athletes is even more important."
