ASU prepares for season as Matthew Mayich remains hospitalized

TEMPE – After a disappointing last-place NCHC finish in 2025-26, most storylines surrounding Arizona State questioned whether it could utilize a top-ranked transfer class to find better success.

All of that changed on August 20.

Instead, the attention flipped to a topic more important than anything on the ice. During a team workout at Sun Angel Stadium, sophomore defenseman Matthew Mayich collapsed and was hospitalized due to heat stroke-related brain trauma.

Thirty-four days later, as Mayich remains in a coma, head coach Greg Powers broke his silence. Every word that came out of his mouth was placed under a microscope by the national media, who weren’t very interested in ASU’s season outlook, but rather what happened five weeks ago.

As he expressed his condolences to the Mayich family, while praising the University’s support, reporters berated him with questions about the incidents of August 20, all of which he “respectfully declined” to answer.

“As we try to prepare for a new season, we are all affected by what has happened,” Powers said. “Everybody is coping with this in different ways. There is a tremendous university support system in place to help our student-athletes and our staff in whatever we may need. For us, being with each other, both at the rink and away from the rink, is what is helping us most.”

Powers also did not speak on a report released a day earlier from ASU on the workout, revealing that protocols were not properly followed by retired Green Beret Tim Ziesel. Many questions regarding the incident still loom large, as an ASU Police Department Investigation continues.

“Yesterday, the university shared its first report from Senior Vice President of Educational Outreach and Student Services to ASU President Michael Crow regarding the team activity on August 20,” Powers said. “There is also an ongoing ASU police investigation. I know there will be more questions about Matthew, and we won’t be able to answer those today.”

In the weeks following Mayich’s collapse, Powers has been the subject of immense criticism from not only people online, but also Mayich’s family lawyer, Leonard Aragon, raising questions about the future of the program with him at the helm. In spite of the discourse, Powers still believes that he is the best person to lead the Sun Devils.

“I think in almost 20 years of doing this at this institution, I know there are a lot of people and young men that have really positive things to say about their experience here,” Powers said. The relationship that we have extends far beyond the game of hockey. There has been a lot of stuff said about me, but I believe that I am the right guy.”

While any inquiries related to the workout remained unanswered, another question remains afloat: How will a team that begins its season next week be able to play with one of its teammates in a coma?

An event such as the one on August 20 could leave players in many different headspaces and bring out strong emotions. Many of the Sun Devil players, including junior forward and alternate captain Ben Muthersbaugh, are hoping to use the heartbreaking situation as a motivating factor, as they look to right the ship of a depleted program.

Multiple Sun Devil players have visited Mayich in the hospital, along with Coach Powers, who spoke with the Mayich family – although the details of those conversations have not been shared.

“It’s been tough for a lot of guys that are 18 to 24 years old to go through something like this,” Muthersbaugh said. “ Especially with someone who’s going to be one of our brothers and one of our best friends, but you know we still have a season to play for, and we’re playing for him. And each and every night, playing for him and coming together and being together at the rink has been kind of a good escape route for a lot of guys. And you know it’s always bigger than hockey.”

Muthersbaugh, a transfer from Union, is part of a leadership quad that includes captain senior forward Kyle Smolen along with alternate captains senior center Sean McGurn, sophomore forward Jack Beck and junior forward Logan Morrell. The New Hampshire native, with the help of ASU’s returning leaders, is hoping to guide the team through an unimaginable hockey season.

“Everyone’s kind of looking to be a leader in their own way,” Muthersbaugh said. “Whether it’s newcomers or returners. So it’s just about being yourself and gaining respect from other guys and the staff. Obviously, the leadership group has a little more pressure on them, but everyone’s kind of a leader amongst different groups.”

Not only do the Sun Devils have to prepare for an unprecedented season following a tragedy, but they also have to get a team together that is almost entirely new. ASU returned just 10 players from last season, with 18 newcomers, including Mayich.

Of those newcomers, seven are freshmen. ASU’s roster last year consisted of nine freshmen, the most he’s ever had since the team became a Division I program in 2015. With the top transfer portal class in the country, according to Puck Preps, Powers’ first-year players this season have a better opportunity of gradually adapting to the speed and physicality of college hockey.

“I think what’s lost is how talented and deep our freshman class is,” Powers said. “With different types of players that do different things, and we’re really balanced. So we’re excited about, you know, the identity that we’re going to play with, and the preparation has been. The guys are focused on playing for Matthew, and they’ve done a great job with it.”

This Sun Devils are in a unique position, not only in the NCHC, but on a national scale. As a program that had finished last place in its conference the year prior, outside noise was bound to creep in.

Now, with the tragic situation regarding Mayich and the national media attention that came with it, ASU has an extremely difficult task at hand. To overcome those odds, the Sun Devils will attempt to unite and honor their fallen brother as they kick off their season on October 2nd.

“It’s a super tough time right now, and obviously you know at the forefront of our mind is Matthew and his family,” Powers said. “It’s tough to get ready for a season when you know this wrench was thrown in pretty early, but we have a great group of guys and great support staff here at ASU. And we just gotta keep him in our thoughts and prayers, and continue to get ready for our season.”