Family of ASU Defenseman Seeks Clarity After Collapse During Preseason Drill
Matthew Mayich, a 21-year-old defenseman for Arizona State and a St. Louis Blues draft pick, remains hospitalized after collapsing during an outdoor workout on Aug. 20. His family's attorney alleges the session was excessively strenuous, with limited water breaks and no rest, and that warning signs were ignored. Arizona State has stated it will review the incident, while the attorney calls for a more thorough investigation.
Matthew Mayich, a 21-year-old Ontario native, joined Arizona State after one season at Clarkson University and four years in the Ontario Hockey League with Ottawa. He was selected by St. Louis in the sixth round of the 2023 NHL draft but never signed an entry-level contract. The Aug. 20 session marked the first day the NCAA permitted formal hockey activities for the fall semester.
Attorney Rob Carey contends the workout ran more than an hour on a hot desert day with minimal hydration breaks, despite athletes having recently arrived in Arizona. He notes ASU's response has been limited to confirming staff presence, while athletic director Graham Rossini characterized the matter as a fact-finding review rather than an investigation. Mayich's family remains focused on his care.
This incident may prompt closer scrutiny of offseason conditioning standards across college athletics, particularly for programs in extreme climates. Student-athletes, coaches, and administrators could all be affected if it spurs revised heat-safety protocols or stricter NCAA oversight of early-session workouts. The case may also influence how universities balance competitive demands with athlete welfare, potentially reshaping institutional accountability and family expectations regarding transparency in similar situations.