Former Green Beret had no contract for ASU workout that left hockey player hospitalized

The former Green Beret who led an Aug. 20 outdoor workout that left an Arizona State University hockey player in the hospital was reportedly not under contract with the university.

The Arizona Republic reported that Tim Zeisel’s attorney, Buddy Rake, said he only had a handshake agreement with head hockey coach Greg Powers and staff.

Arizona Republic reporter Robert Anglen told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Outspoke with Bruce & Gaydos on Tuesday that agreement violates ASU’s Athletic Department guidelines.

“The policy says if the university is going to bring in somebody … from outside to work with athletes, they have to go through a vetting process and they have to sign what’s known as a consultant police form,” Anglen explained. “The trainer and his lawyer both say that never happened.”

ASU Athletic Director Graham Rossini told Arizona Sports’ Burns & Gambo on Sept. 3 part of the review the university is conducting into the incident is looking into whether its policies for outside consultants were followed.

The university previously indicated that it has institutional guidelines and requirements for outside entities who interact with its student-athletes and sport programs.

Matthew Mayich has remained hospitalized since he collapsed during the practice last month. Robert Carey, an attorney for Mayich’s family, said on Sept. 2 that the hockey player has no chance for recovery, stating “his body ceased functioning in a fundamental way, and this condition is irreversible.”

Leonard Aragon, another attorney representing Mayich’s family, claimed the trainer pushed athletes to their limit and beyond with a military-style workout. He also alleged that the student-athletes would be punished for stopping or drinking water.

“Zeisel and his attorney dispute whether [the exercises] were grueling or military style … except in tone and cadence, they say,” Anglen said. “He also says he left the practice early before the workouts were over and before Mr. Mayich collapsed.”

The lack of a contract isn’t the only policy that ASU allegedly violated as guidelines also state that student-athletes are supposed to be gradually acclimatized over seven to 14 days, according to The Arizona Republic.

However, Aragon said Mayich flew in from Ottawa, Canada, less than a week before the workout, which was his first with the team.

ASU previously said that Sun Devil Athletics has heat-illness guidelines in place that are based on the National Athletic Trainers’ Association.

“Based on descriptions provided by the Mayich family lawyer, Mayich started suffering throughout the workout. He was showing signs of not being able to complete tasks. He was disoriented. … Then when he collapsed, they did not bring him to a bath. They did not put him in ice,” Anglen said. “They instead stood around him, left him on the field laying there. … As I understand it, players tried to shade him and others worked on him.”

ASU conducting review following Matthew Mayich’s hospitalization

Rossini emphasized to Arizona Sports’ Burns & Gambo on Aug. 28 that ASU is reviewing the incident not investigating it.

“This is not an investigation where somebody’s suggesting something went wrong,” Rossini said. “We’re reviewing the facts and understanding the scenario.”

Senior Vice President James Rund is conducting the review of the workout as well as the related university policies, procedures and protocols, according to ASU.

However, Aragon and Mayich’s family want ASU to authorize an independent investigation into the incident to ensure they get answers on why this happened.

“They’re calling for either Phoenix PD, the attorney general or … Department of Public Safety to pick up that investigation,” Anglen said. “They have asked ASU to respond to the request of as of now they have not.”

Aragon said a lawsuit may be filed in the future, but for now he and Carey are conducting interviews and collecting the facts of the case.

Mayich was drafted by the St. Louis Blues in the sixth round of the 2023 NHL Draft. He transferred to Arizona State this past offseason after spending his freshman season collegiately playing at Clarkson University in New York.

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Kevin Stone and Kellen Shover contributed to this report.

Related

If early overseas acclimation gave 49ers advantage over Rams, ASU has it over KansasASU’s Kenny Dillingham not letting London setting take away from Kansas game prepArizona State RG Wade Helton out ‘a few weeks’ with lower leg injuryCam Skattebo lands backflip following first TD since injuryBYU, Texas A&M move up in AP Top 25 after respective wins over Arizona, ASUASU’s Reed Harris planting flag among nation’s top wide receivers early