An Arizona State hockey player and St. Louis Blues draft pick is still hospitalized with "zero chance of recovery" nearly two weeks after collapsing during an offseason workout at the school.
Tempe Fire Medical Rescue crews were dispatched to the track around 8:30 a.m. local time after reports of a heat-related illness, as temperatures ranged from 87 to 89 degrees.
What happened to Matthew Mayich?
Matthew Mayich, a sixth-round pick of the St. Louis Blues in the 2023 NHL Draft, suffered what was described as a possible cardiac event during an off-campus workout, according to The Arizona Republic. The 50-minute workout was held at ASU's Joe Selleh Track on the morning of Thursday, Aug. 20, and was led by a former Green Beret.
Mayich remains in a coma at Barrow Neurological Institute
in Phoenix. The university promised a thorough review in a Tuesday, Aug. 25 statement after The Arizona Republic first identified Mayich as the affected student-athlete.
Attorney for Mayich disputes ASU's narrative
Robert Carey, an attorney representing Mayich's family, accused ASU of advancing an "unofficial narrative" about the circumstances surrounding the workout.
"My investigation shows the storyline is completely false," Carey told The Arizona Republic. "This case has shattered [Mayich's] life. He deserves, and his family deserves, a proper investigation."
Carey said he interviewed multiple players and learned they were forced to go through a series of intensive workouts without standard breaks while the ex-Green Beret "yelled at them from the get-go … like a drill instructor." Players were also allegedly told not to complain, and that water was available only to those leading the exercises. Carey claims Mayich began showing signs of distress as the workout progressed, and he became disoriented and was struggling "well before he collapsed."
He is now calling for the university to conduct an independent investigation and to either suspend or put the coaching staff on administrative leave to allow investigators to gather information from players.
Carey said Mayich has a "zero chance of recovery," adding that his family has no faith that the university would conduct a complete and impartial inquiry.
Who is Matthew Mayich?
Mayich is a defenseman hailing from Stoney Creek, Ontario, Canada.
The 21-year-old spent his freshman NCAA season at Clarkson University, where he recorded 15 points (seven goals, eight assists) and 28 blocked shots in 34 games while leading all Clarkson freshmen with an average of 19:47 of ice time per game. He transferred to Arizona State this past offseason for his sophomore year.
Mayich was selected 170th overall by the St. Louis Blues in the 2023 NHL Draft.
"The entire Blues organization is keeping Matthew Mayich close to our hearts as we pray for his comfort and recovery," Doug Armstrong, Blues president of hockey operations, said in a statement.
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: St. Louis Blues prospect hospitalized after outdoor workout
