The parents of an Arizona State University hockey player who collapsed during a summer team workout and remains hospitalized are calling for coaches involved to be placed on leave.John and Christina Mayich sent a letter through their lawyer Tuesday, calling on ASU’s president to place coaches who ran the Aug.20 workout, which was led by an Army veteran, on leave “while an independent investigation gets to the truth.”Matthew Mayich, 21, collapsed during the outdoor workout just five days into his start with the team, and suffered external heat stroke for which he remains hospitalized and from which he is unlikely to recover, family attorney Rob Carey has said.The letter came a day after seven players, who their lawyer said were not named for fear of retaliation, sent their own letter Monday to ASU President Michael Crow, disputing several findings in ASU’s initial internal report into the incident.
Though the letter did not include past instances of retaliation by the coaching staff, the players said they are afraid of being retaliated against because the coaches “decide our playing time, scholarship levels, and roster status.”“The players shouldn’t have to worry about retaliation from the people they report to every day,” the Mayiches said Tuesday in their letter.“And there are plenty of former college and pro players in the Valley who could step in and help.”The university did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday, but on Sept.
21 it released a report accounting for the actions of coaches and staff that day.The report found an athletic trainer assessed Mayich’s condition, told him to stay down, put iced towels and cool water on him, called 911 and directed student-athletes to help her move him to a shaded area.In their letter to Crow, the seven players criticized the report.
Timothy J.Casey, their lawyer, emailed the letter and said he verified the identities of those behind it.The players noted Mayich was new to Arizo...