Arizona lawmakers Matt Gress and Hildy Angius on Sept. 28, 2026, called on the Arizona Board of Regents to hire an independent investigator to examine a men’s hockey workout at Arizona State University where player Matthew Mayich collapsed. The request followed a letter from players disputing the university’s account and seeks to determine who authorized the workout and whether proper protocols were followed, according to the lawmakers.
The incident occurred during a men’s hockey workout at Arizona State University on Aug. 20, 2026, when 21-year-old player Matthew Mayich collapsed. Reports indicate Mayich suffered heat stroke and was hospitalized in critical condition, with later accounts stating he remained on life support, though a final medical outcome has not been confirmed.
The workout involved an outside consultant described by players as a former U.S. Army Green Beret, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Lawmakers Matt Gress, chair of the Arizona House Education Committee, and Hildy Angius, chair of the Senate Education Committee, requested the Arizona Board of Regents retain an independent investigator with no ties to ASU to examine the circumstances surrounding the workout. Their inquiry aims to determine who authorized the session and whether ASU followed its own policies and procedures, including required vetting and heat-safety protocols. The review would also explore why ASU strength-and-conditioning staff allegedly did not review the workout plan and why the final exercise continued after the outside consultant left, Gress and Angius said.
The request came after ASU hockey players sent a letter disputing the university’s initial account of the workout and calling for an outside investigation. The players’ statements reportedly conflicted with portions of ASU’s earlier report, which acknowledged that the hockey team’s staff did not submit a training-activity plan but did not assign blame to any individual or group. That report recommended creating an advisory panel to review university policies for outdoor athletic activities.
At the time of the lawmakers’ request on Sept. 28, 2026, the ASU Police Department was conducting a criminal investigation into the incident. The police report is expected to be forwarded to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office for independent review upon completion. Gress and Angius emphasized that their proposed investigation is separate from the criminal inquiry, focusing instead on institutional responsibility, athlete protections, and compliance with ASU rules. Neither lawmaker accused any individual of criminal wrongdoing.
The Arizona Board of Regents, which oversees ASU and is chaired by Doug Goodyear, discussed the matter at a meeting on Oct. 2, 2026. Goodyear pledged that the board would follow up on the case. Subsequently, ASU announced that it had retained former Arizona Supreme Court Chief Justice Scott Bales to lead an independent review. Bales is expected to examine the planning and approval processes for outdoor athletic activities, including strength-and-conditioning sessions, practices, and competitions. ASU has requested that Bales complete the review by early December 2026.
The scope of the proposed review includes staffing, policies, and procedures related to outdoor athletic activities, adjustments made in response to changing conditions or adverse reactions, and preparation for and response to medical emergencies during such activities. Investigators will also assess ASU’s use of outside consultants in strength-and-conditioning and practice activities. Gress stated that an independent investigation is necessary to clarify who was responsible for protecting the athletes and what occurred when Mayich showed signs of distress.
ASU’s initial review of the workout acknowledged shortcomings in the submission of training-activity plans but did not assign individual blame. The university’s report recommended policy reviews but did not address all concerns raised by players and lawmakers. The independent review led by Bales will seek to provide a comprehensive assessment of the incident and the university’s protocols.
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