Parents, teammates of hospitalized ASU hockey player Matthew Mayich call for coaches to be removed

ARIZONA —

An Arizona State University hockey player remains in the hospital and is “unlikely to recover” after collapsing during an outdoor practice in August. Now, the player’s parents and teammates are calling for the college coaches involved to be placed on leave.

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ESPN said the parents of Matthew Mayich, 21, released a statement Tuesday through their family attorney, saying he suffered “exertional heat stroke that reduced the flow of oxygen to his brain” after collapsing during a summer team practice on Aug. 20.

His family said he was unlikely to recover.

The statement comes after seven ASU hockey players sent an anonymous letter to the university president Monday, saying Mayich was not given water during practice, which they called more grueling than expected. They said athletic staff were unprepared to deal with heatstroke.

The players also noted that Mayich was new to Arizona, having spent only eight days in the area and having participated in the hockey program for five days.

Drafted by the St. Louis Blues, Mayich is from Hamilton, Ontario, according to the NHL.

The players sent the letter anonymously for fear of retaliation from the coaching staff, ESPN said. The players requested that an interim coaching staff be put in place if the coaches involved were placed on leave.

Arizona State Police are investigating the incident. A report will be sent to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office for independent review once completed.

ESPN and the Associated Press contributed to this article.