TEMPE, Ariz. (KPHO/Gray News) — An NHL draft pick will likely not recover after he collapsed during an outdoor workout in extreme heat, his lawyer said Tuesday.
Matthew Mayich, a sophomore defenseman at Arizona State University from Ontario, Canada, collapsed on Aug. 20 during an outdoor workout in Tempe, Arizona.
Mayich was rushed to a local hospital, where he remains.
His family’s lawyer, Robert Carey, said the 21-year-old is incapacitated, and his condition is “highly unlikely” to change.
“His family is at his side, and they are grateful for the support they’ve received from the hockey community and from Matthew’s teammates,” Carey told KPHO in a statement.
The day Mayich collapsed, temperatures reached 106 degrees, but officials noted the workout did not occur during the hottest part of the day.
Carey said his focus now is on investigating what happened that day.
Statement from ASU
In a statement, Arizona State University confirmed the school is reviewing the circumstances of the outdoor workout.
“A student-athlete who collapsed during an outdoor workout on Aug. 20 remains hospitalized. The student-athlete, a member of the ASU Hockey team, is not being named by the university because of privacy interests.
The morning outdoor workout was a team event at which coaches and training staff were present along with a third party who had previously worked with the ASU Hockey team. ASU has institutional guidelines and requirements relating to the engagement of outside entities who interact with ASU student-athletes and sport programs.
Sun Devil Athletics also has heat-illness guidelines in place; these guidelines are informed by the National Athletic Trainers’ Association. SDA student-athletes regularly practice and train outside, under coach and trainer supervision.
ASU is reviewing all the circumstances surrounding the workout and the related university policies, procedures and training protocols. James Rund, senior vice president, is leading the review.
The review will take the time needed to collect and assess information in a manner that is thoughtful, respectful of the student-athlete, his family, his teammates and ASU’s privacy obligations. While the review is ongoing, Coach Powers and other SDA and university staff will continue to provide support and resources to the hockey student-athletes and to share information with them in a manner that respects the privacy of the student-athlete and his family.”
Arizona State University spokesperson
Mayich was a draft pick for the St. Louis Blues
Mayich, who is new to the Phoenix area, is wearing No. 27 in his first season with the ASU Sun Devils. He was selected 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 while he continues to undergo medical treatment in Arizona,” Doug Armstrong, Blues president of hockey operations, said in a statement posted on X. “His agent has kept us informed about Matthew’s medical status over the last week and we extend our deepest support to his family, friends and teammates during this difficult time.”
ER doctor warns of extreme heat dangers
Shortly after Mayich was hospitalized, an emergency physician and professor at ASU emphasized the extreme difficulty and danger of training in extreme heat.
“It’s very, very hard to train in this heat,” Dr. Frank 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 like 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.”
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