TEMPE, AZ (AZFamily) —A member of the Arizona State University hockey team remains hospitalized after collapsing last week during an outdoor workout, raising questions about the circumstances surrounding the medical emergency and why the student-athlete was exercising in extreme heat.
The athlete has been identified as Matthew Mayich, a sophomore defenseman from Ontario, Canada.
The university confirmed the workout took place Thursday morning. While the exact time remains unclear, officials noted it did not occur during the hottest part of the day.
The incident serves as a stark warning about the dangers of physical exertion in extreme temperatures, regardless of an individual’s physical fitness.
Students and athletes returned to campus last week for the 2026-27 school year. Many arrived from nearby and were already mindful of the Arizona heat, while others from farther away are quickly learning how dangerous the local weather can be.
Also last week, a First Alert weather warning was in effect for the Phoenix area as temperatures climbed into dangerous triple digits.
It remains unclear whether the exercise was an officially sanctioned university practice, an informal team gathering, or if Mayich was working out on his own.
Mayich was rushed to a local hospital, where he continues to fight for his life.
Mayich, who is new to the Phoenix area, is wearing No. 27 in his first season with the Sun Devils. He was selected by the St. Louis Blues in the 2023 NHL draft.
On Tuesday, the Canadian-Croatian Chamber of Commerce held a candlelight vigil for Mayich, posting on Facebook asking for prayers and support for the sophomore and his family.
Dr. Frank LoVecchio, an emergency physician and professor at ASU, emphasized the extreme difficulty and danger of training in such conditions.
“It’s very, very hard to train in this heat,” LoVecchio said. “I don’t know if anyone’s going to be able to exercise really, really hard for a long time in the middle of the heat in Arizona.”
LoVecchio noted that even elite, highly conditioned athletes such as Mayich will struggle when pushed in extreme temperatures.
“And something that we say, it doesn’t take long to burn brain cells and your temperature could rise very, very quickly,” LoVecchio said. “The average person, even athletes, can’t make it in that heat. And when I say can’t make it, it’s very, very unlikely that they can make it without needing some assistance. And God forbid, they don’t die or have permanent brain damage.”
Monsoon storms brought rain and gusty winds to the Phoenix area on Wednesday night, dropping temperatures overnight. As a result, Thursday morning was cooler than previous days, though still potentially dangerous for intense outdoor training.
Arizona State University is currently reviewing the circumstances surrounding the workout.
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