Hamilton NHL prospect Matthew Mayich 'needs a miracle' after training collapse, family lawyer says

Hamilton NHL prospect Matthew Mayich 'needs a miracle' after training collapse, family lawyer says

Lawyer for St. Louis Blues draftee calls for investigation into 'brutal' workout at Arizona State University

Hamilton-born NHL prospect Matthew Mayich "needs a miracle" after being hospitalized following a training incident at Arizona State University last month, his family's lawyer has said.

Attorney Rob Carey spoke to CBC Hamilton on behalf of Mayich's family on Friday, saying the 21-year-old's parents, who live in Hamilton's Stoney Creek area, are staying near the hospital to be with their son each day.

"They really appreciate the love and the prayers and the support they've received from their Canadian friends," the partner with U.S. law firm Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP said.

The St. Louis Blues draft pick collapsed following a morning workout at Arizona State University (ASU), Carey said. He said Mayich suffered exertional heatstroke causing a lack of oxygen to the brain.

A report in the journal BMJ Medicine describes exertional heatstroke as "the third leading cause of mortality in athletes during physical activity." It says data indicate mortality rates of about 27 per cent, with long-term negative health consequences for survivors.

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ASU confirmed a student on the hockey team collapsed during an Aug. 20 training session but has not named them, citing privacy obligations.

"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," the university said in a Sept. 3 statement.

ASU vice-president James Rund is leading a review, the school said, looking at "the workout and related university policies, procedures and training protocols."

The review will be conducted in a manner respectful of "the student-athlete, his family, his teammates and ASU’s privacy obligations," ASU said.

Mayich endured 'brutal' workout: lawyer

The university has been "tight-lipped" about what occurred, Carey said, but based on his own investigation, he believes Mayich endured a "military-style, brutal, grueling workout," with no breaks and no water for over an hour.

"You have an elite NHL-drafted athlete showing up on the first coach-led workout, the very first day the team could organize formally, and he left the field with no chance of recovery," Carey said. "Obviously there's something wrong."

When Mayich collapsed, the lawyer said that no one immediately immersed him in cool water, contrary to best practices for treating heat stroke.

It was about 31 C in Tempe, a college town just east of Phoenix, as of 7:51 a.m. on Aug. 20, according to Weather Underground. University police received a call about the hockey player's collapse around 8:30 a.m., ASU said.

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CBC asked ASU to respond to Carey's allegations and to provide details about its own investigation.

A spokesperson said they had no further information beyond the Sept. 3 statement.

The university has guidelines for heat illness, as well as for for how third parties interact with ASU athletes, the statement said.

Questions about the workout are part of ASU's review, it added.

"The goal right now is just to get evidence about what happened," Carey said. "We don't know why [the workout] was set up, who set it up, what was really designed for the day, what safety precautions were taken, and who made a decision not to have safety precautions ready."

The family wants a fair and complete investigation, involving witness interviews, security video and digital communications, he said.

"If it's not happening, then either we need a proper police department to investigate it or we will do it when we have the ability with a civil lawsuit," Carey said.

CBC asked the University of Arizona Police Department if it's investigating but did not receive a response.

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Mayich mentored younger players in Hamilton

Mayich played minor hockey with the Hamilton Huskies between 2016 and 2020 then with the Ottawa 67's before the St. Louis Blues drafted the defenceman in the sixth round of the 2023 NHL draft.

During his six seasons with the Huskies and one as a member of the Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs, Mayich established "himself as a tremendous hockey player and, more importantly, an outstanding person both on and off the ice," the Hamilton Steel Hockey Club, formerly the Huskies, said.

The statement was sent to CBC Hamilton on behalf of the organization, former Huskies president Mike Spadafora and former Huskies head coach Chris Travale. Spadafora is currently the councillor for Hamilton's Ward 14, running for re-election.

"Without fail, whenever [Mayich] is asked, he comes back every year to speak and skate with a new crop of young kids," Travale said. "His message is always about so much more than hockey — it’s about relationships, friendships, and the experiences you have along the hockey journey.

"From everyone at Hamilton Steel Hockey Club, the Hamilton Huskies family, Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs and the Hamilton hockey community — Matthew remains in our thoughts and prayers, and our hearts are with him and the entire Mayich family."

Justin Chandler is a CBC News reporter in Hamilton. He covers stories of all kinds from places including picket lines, court rooms, council meetings and research labs. Justin has a special interest in how public policy affects people, and loves a quirky human-interest story. Before CBC Hamilton, he worked for TVO and on a variety of CBC teams and programs. He co-hosted Radio Free Krypton on Met Radio.