Lawyer for comatose hockey player urges suspension of ASU staff and independent review
Matthew Mayich, a 21-year-old hockey transfer from Clarkson, remains in a coma after collapsing during an off-ice workout at Arizona State on Aug. 20. His family's attorney, Rob Carey, says the university has mishandled the situation and is calling for an independent investigation and suspensions of coaching staff. Mayich, a sixth-round NHL draft pick, had seven goals and eight assists in 34 games as a freshman at Clarkson.
Matthew Mayich, a 21-year-old defenseman, transferred to Arizona State from Clarkson after a freshman season where he recorded 15 points in 34 games. He had previously played junior hockey with the Ottawa 67's and was selected by the St. Louis Blues in the sixth round of the 2023 NHL Draft. He collapsed during an off-ice workout on Aug. 20, the first day of classes, and remains hospitalized in a coma at a Phoenix neurological institute.
The family's attorney, Rob Carey, a former Arizona Deputy Chief Attorney General, has publicly stated that Mayich is incapacitated with little chance of recovery. While Arizona State has assigned Senior Vice President James Rund to conduct an internal review, the school and athletic director Graham Rossini have explicitly clarified this is not an investigation. Carey is demanding that coaching staff members be suspended or placed on administrative leave and that an independent probe be launched.
This case could heighten scrutiny of college athletic training protocols, particularly for off-ice conditioning sessions. The family's call for an independent investigation may pressure universities to review their internal incident-response procedures and liability standards. Other student-athletes and their families may become more cautious about transfer decisions, while athletic departments could face increased demands for transparency and accountability in medical emergencies. The outcome may influence how similar incidents are handled nationally, potentially reshaping institutional