‘They need a miracle’: Hamilton-born hockey player hospitalized in Arizona

A Hamilton-born hockey player, Matthew Mayich, has been hospitalized for nearly two weeks after collapsing during an off-season workout, and his family is hoping for a miracle.

The 21-year-old defenceman’s lawyer and his family says that outdoor workout in extreme heat ruined the young hockey player’s life.

The lawyer is searching for answers, saying Arizona State University needs to open a formal investigation into what led to him collapsing.

“They need a miracle. This isn’t about him coming back to play hockey, this is about him surviving,” said Rob Carey, an attorney representing Mayich and his family.

He says Mayich is still in hospital, fighting for his life.

“He’s incapacitated and has been incapacitated since he left the field,” Carey said.

Mayich collapsed during an on-campus outdoor workout at Arizona State University on Aug. 20. Carey says the desert heat was extreme on that day.

“I’ve talked to enough where I’m confident that it was well over an hour and it was a gruelling grind meant to send a message to the team that this is going to be a very tough team,” Carey said.

Carey adds that Mayich was showing signs of struggle well before he collapsed, but nothing was done.

“The evidence will come out that this was a beat down session. A beat down session, where Matthew didn’t get any water, where many of the kids didn’t get any water,” Carey said.

Mayich was born in Hamilton and played with the Hamilton Huskies, then the Ottawa 67’s. The St. Louis Blues drafted him in the sixth round of the 2023 NHL draft.

Carey says that dream is likely over.

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“This is unlikely to ever change and the family sort of understands that,” Carey said.

In a statement, the Ottawa 67’s said: “The Ottawa 67’s are aware of the hospitalization of our former assistant captain, Matthew Mayich, and are keeping him and his family in our thoughts during this incredibly difficult time.”

The Brantford Bulldogs shared their condolences, saying: “The Bulldogs are like everyone else, shocked and saddened by what has happened to Matthew & the Mayich family.”

The St. Louis Blues said: “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.”

CHCH News reached out to Arizona State University.

It sent a statement reading in part: “ASU is reviewing all the circumstances surrounding the workout and the related university policies, procedures and training protocols.”

In a radio interview last week, ASU athletic director Graham Rossini said: “This is not an investigation where someone is suggesting something went wrong… We’re just reviewing the facts and understanding the scenario.”

“You say it’s a review, not an investigation, because there’s no suggestion that something went wrong, you basically destroyed a 21-year-old man’s life, something obviously went wrong,” Carey said.

Carey says while the family focuses on Mayich, he is going to continue calling on the university to open an investigation.

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