Matthew Maich fell during a controversial ASU hockey team practice
24 september 2026 в 07:02
New footage captures moments before Arizona State University hockey player Matthew Maich collapsed during a controversial open practice last month, leading to his hospitalization with «zero chance of recovery».
The recording, obtained and published by Arizona’s Family on September 22, shows Tim Zizel, a special forces instructor, conducting a practice on the field next to the ASU rink on August 20. In the video, Zizel can be heard telling the players, «Teams that win become soft. Because that’s what winning does—it makes you soft!» He then instructs the players to do push-ups, with some clearly struggling.
After the recording, Maich, 21, lost consciousness due to heat stroke. In an exclusive interview with Us earlier this month, Maich’s family attorney, Robert Carey, acknowledged that «there will be no good outcome». A report released by Arizona State University on September 22 stated that the temperature during the practice ranged from 30 to 32 degrees Fahrenheit with relative humidity between 51% and 46%.
According to the attorney, during the practice, Maich experienced dizziness and disorientation before suffering a «physical heat stroke that caused a lack of oxygen to the brain». Carey expressed confidence that Maich had not received water during the nearly hour-long practice, which contradicts ASU’s report. It states that «the ASU hockey team staff ordered short-sleeved shirts and light shorts for participants, and the athletic trainer brought water and ice towels».
ASU Senior Vice President James Rund added that all student-athletes, including Maich, were medically cleared to participate in the event. However, despite the stated precautions, the report acknowledges that the ASU hockey team «did not present a training plan for review by strength and conditioning coaches».
Maich’s family attorney sharply criticized the report, stating that «what is not said in the report is what the players will say: this was training work as punishment». He also noted that the practice was scheduled for ninety minutes but was cut to forty-five, while ASU’s timeline indicates that Maich was on the field for over eighty minutes without sufficient water and without acclimatization.
Arizona State University plans to open its season on October 2 at Lindenwood.
The recording, obtained and published by Arizona’s Family on September 22, shows Tim Zizel, a special forces instructor, conducting a practice on the field next to the ASU rink on August 20. In the video, Zizel can be heard telling the players, «Teams that win become soft. Because that’s what winning does—it makes you soft!» He then instructs the players to do push-ups, with some clearly struggling.
After the recording, Maich, 21, lost consciousness due to heat stroke. In an exclusive interview with Us earlier this month, Maich’s family attorney, Robert Carey, acknowledged that «there will be no good outcome». A report released by Arizona State University on September 22 stated that the temperature during the practice ranged from 30 to 32 degrees Fahrenheit with relative humidity between 51% and 46%.
According to the attorney, during the practice, Maich experienced dizziness and disorientation before suffering a «physical heat stroke that caused a lack of oxygen to the brain». Carey expressed confidence that Maich had not received water during the nearly hour-long practice, which contradicts ASU’s report. It states that «the ASU hockey team staff ordered short-sleeved shirts and light shorts for participants, and the athletic trainer brought water and ice towels».
ASU Senior Vice President James Rund added that all student-athletes, including Maich, were medically cleared to participate in the event. However, despite the stated precautions, the report acknowledges that the ASU hockey team «did not present a training plan for review by strength and conditioning coaches».
Maich’s family attorney sharply criticized the report, stating that «what is not said in the report is what the players will say: this was training work as punishment». He also noted that the practice was scheduled for ninety minutes but was cut to forty-five, while ASU’s timeline indicates that Maich was on the field for over eighty minutes without sufficient water and without acclimatization.
Arizona State University plans to open its season on October 2 at Lindenwood.
© Zhinobaeva Margarita
