TEMPE, Ariz. -- The parents of an Arizona State hockey player who collapsed during an outdoor workout are calling for the coaches involved to be removed until an independent investigation is completed.
John and Christina Mayich, the parents of 21-year-old Matthew Mayich, released a statement through the family attorney Tuesday, concurring with a letter sent by seven Arizona State hockey players to university president Michael Crow on Monday. The players asked the university to place the coaches involved in the Aug. 20 workout to be placed on administrative leave until an investigation by an outside agency is completed.
The letter was sent anonymously through an attorney because the players feared retribution from the coaching staff.
"We've heard some things about what our family wants that aren't right, so we want to be clear: we want this team to have a great season and we'll be cheering for you," the Mayichs said through attorney Rob Carey. "But the coaches who ran that workout on August 20 need to be removed while an independent investigation gets to the truth. The players shouldn't have to worry about retaliation from the people they report to every day."
Mayich, a defenseman who was drafted by the St. Louis Blues, collapsed during an outdoor workout on the first day the NCAA allows official activities. He suffered from external heatstroke that reduced flow of oxygen to his brain and is unlikely to recover, Carey said.
The letter sent by the players called out discrepancies from an initial probe by Arizona State and asked for an interim coaching staff to be put in place if the coaches involved are placed on leave.
"Nobody should keep quiet about what they think should happen because they believe that's what we want. It isn't," the Mayichs said. "If anyone wants to know what we want, ask us. We want the truth, and we want it done in a way that lets the boys focus on hockey instead of wondering whether their coaches think they talked. Mostly, we want accountability for what happened to our son, and we want his teammates to be safe."
The Arizona State police department is investigating the incident and a report will be sent to the Maricopa County Attorney's Office for independent review when completed.
In a letter to Carey dated Friday, Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said that her office has been in communication with ASU police since the beginning of its investigation and is waiting for them to submit their case for review.
"While I cannot say that I will open an entirely new investigation, what I can tell you is that we will make sure that we are satisfied that all appropriate investigative steps have been taken, and all evidence gathered," Mitchell wrote.
Mitchell asked Carey to encourage people to participate in ASU police's investigation.
"For reasons that I know you, as a trial attorney, understand, it is not wise to be conducting a separate investigation simultaneously," she wrote. "Having outlined the process that we will be following, it is my hope -- and frankly, request -- that you encourage cooperation with the investigation, knowing that information and evidence gathered will be turned over to my office for review."
Arizona's House and Senate education committee chairs called for an independent investigation of Arizona State's hockey workout after reading the letter from the players.
Information from ESPN's Tisha Thompson and The Associated Press was used in this report.
