The Arizona State University Police Department have opened an investigation surrounding the events leading up to the collapse of an ASU hockey player, The Athletic's Katie Strange, Adam Kilgore and Nathan Fenno reported on Wednesday.
The player, Matthew Mayitch, remains in hospital in critical condition after collapsing during an on-campus outdoor workout on Aug. 20.
The Athletic reports that state police are assessing whether any criminal acts occurred and that the investigation is separate from the review the university is conducting.
A representative for the university told The Athletic that it is standard for the ASUPD to investigate any serious injuries that occur on campus.
The Mayitch family attorney, Rob Carey, said that Matthew suffered "exertional heat stroke that caused a lack of oxygen to the brain," adding that there were "no other contributing conditions, only exertion-related heat."
Speaking to The Associated Press on Tuesday, Carey said the outdoor workout on a hot desert day was unsuited for a first outdoor practice, particularly for athletes who hadn't been in the Valley a full week, calling it “onerous” and “gruelling.”
Carey said there were signs of trouble well before Mayich collapsed and that the workout lasted well over an hour, with no rest and one water break for some of the athletes.
The Blues drafted Mayich in the sixth round of the 2023 NHL Draft, but he never signed an entry-level contract. The Stoney Creek, Ont., native played four seasons with the Ottawa 67’s of the Ontario Hockey League before playing at Clarkson University last season.
Mayich transferred to Arizona State for the upcoming season.
— With files from The Associated Press
