Matthew Mayich Collapse: What Happened?

September 2, 2026 admin

The Matthew Mayich collapse has drawn widespread attention after the 21-year-old St. Louis Blues prospect suffered a serious medical emergency during an outdoor workout with Arizona State University hockey on Aug. 20, 2026.

Mayich, a defenseman from Stoney Creek, Ontario, was taken to a Phoenix-area hospital after collapsing during the session. Emergency responders initially described the situation as a heat-related illness. Arizona State has since been reviewing the circumstances surrounding the workout.

The situation took a more serious turn this week. According to an attorney representing Mayich’s family, the young hockey player has been left in a condition the family considers extremely grave, with the attorney saying he has “zero chance of recovery.” That statement reflects the family’s position and has not been established as the conclusion of an independent investigation.

The case has also raised questions about the intensity of the workout, the role of the person who led it and how Arizona State handled the aftermath.

Here are the five biggest developments surrounding the Matthew Mayich collapse.

1. Matthew Mayich Collapsed During an Outdoor ASU Workout

The incident happened on Aug. 20 at Arizona State’s Joe Selleh Track in Tempe.

According to reports, emergency crews responded at approximately 8:30 a.m. after receiving a report involving a heat-related illness. The region was experiencing extreme summer heat, adding another concern to an already demanding outdoor training environment.

The workout reportedly included several physically demanding exercises. Reports have described sprints, planks, pushups and bear crawls as part of the session.

The Athletic’s reporting, as summarized by AOL and People, said the workout lasted roughly an hour. Some athletes reportedly faced additional exercises if they fell behind other groups or could not complete portions of the session.

Mayich ultimately collapsed and required emergency medical attention.

Arizona State initially confirmed that a hockey player had suffered a medical emergency but did not publicly identify him, citing privacy considerations. His identity was later confirmed by reports and people close to the family.

2. The NHL Prospect Remains in Extremely Serious Condition

The Matthew Mayich collapse became even more concerning after reports about his medical condition emerged.

Mayich has remained hospitalized since the Aug. 20 incident. Earlier reports said he suffered a potential cardiac event and was in critical condition.

The latest development came from family attorney Robert Carey.

Carey told The Arizona Republic that Mayich has “zero chance of recovery.” The statement represents the family’s current assessment through its attorney. The precise nature and full extent of Mayich’s medical injuries have not been publicly disclosed.

That distinction is important.

While the family has made deeply concerning statements about Mayich’s condition, Arizona State’s investigation is still ongoing. Public reports do not establish a final medical or legal conclusion about exactly what caused his collapse.

The St. Louis Blues have also expressed support for the player and his family.

Doug Armstrong, the Blues’ president of hockey operations, said the organization was keeping Mayich close to its hearts while he continued receiving medical treatment in Arizona. The team said Mayich’s agent had been keeping the organization informed.

3. Questions Are Growing About the ASU Hockey Workout

The circumstances surrounding the workout have become one of the central issues in the story.

Mayich’s family attorney has strongly criticized the way Arizona State has handled the investigation. Carey has argued that the workout was considerably more demanding than descriptions suggesting it was a routine training session.

He has characterized the workout as “grueling, onerous and dangerous,” according to reports. Carey has also said his legal team intends to pursue communications, videos and other information related to what happened that morning.

However, there is another side to the dispute.

The workout was reportedly led by Tim Ziesel, a former military service member who was not an Arizona State employee. His attorney has pushed back against claims that the session was excessively difficult.

According to reports, Ziesel’s lawyer argued that the workout was not unusually demanding for Division I athletes. He also said medical personnel and ASU coaching staff were present.

Those conflicting accounts are likely to remain a major part of the investigation.

At this stage, it would be premature to assign responsibility for the Matthew Mayich collapse before all available evidence has been reviewed.

4. Mayich Was a St. Louis Blues Draft Pick

Before the medical emergency, Matthew Mayich was pursuing a promising hockey career.

The St. Louis Blues selected him in the sixth round of the 2023 NHL Draft with the 170th overall pick. The team’s official draft coverage listed Mayich as a defenseman coming out of the Ottawa 67’s of the Ontario Hockey League.

St. Louis Blues official 2023 draft coverage

Mayich spent four seasons with the Ottawa 67’s before moving into college hockey.

According to Clarkson University’s player profile, he arrived at the school after a productive OHL career. He recorded 42 points during the 2024-25 season, including seven goals and 35 assists, while playing a significant defensive role.

Clarkson University player profile for Matthew Mayich

The 6-foot-3 defenseman was viewed as a physically strong, responsible blue-liner with experience and puck-moving ability.

He had also attended St. Louis prospect camps in 2023 and 2024, although he had not signed an entry-level NHL contract as of 2026.

That made the incident particularly devastating for a young athlete whose professional hockey ambitions were still developing.

5. His Hockey Community Is Rallying Around Him

The response to the Matthew Mayich collapse has extended well beyond Arizona State and the St. Louis Blues.

Mayich’s hometown community in Ontario has rallied around him and his family. The Ontario Hockey League also released a statement expressing support for the former Ottawa 67’s player and his family.

A virtual prayer service was organized by the Canadian-Croatian Chamber of Commerce as supporters sought to show solidarity with Mayich and his family.

The situation has also prompted an outpouring of support from the hockey community.

For the Blues, Mayich is not simply a draft selection on a prospect list. He is a young player the organization has followed since selecting him in 2023.

The team’s public statement emphasized its support for Mayich’s family during an exceptionally difficult period.

What We Know About the Investigation

Arizona State University has confirmed that it is reviewing the circumstances surrounding the workout.

The university initially said the student-athlete was not being publicly identified because of privacy concerns. Subsequent reports identified Mayich as the player involved.

One of the most important unanswered questions concerns exactly how the workout was organized and supervised.

Reports indicate that Ziesel, who had a military background, led the session but was not a university employee. His role, the instructions given to athletes, the availability of water and rest periods, environmental conditions and the timeline of Mayich’s distress are all issues that could become important as the review continues.

Mayich’s family attorney has called for members of the coaching staff to be placed on administrative leave while the investigation proceeds.

That request has not been presented as an official finding of wrongdoing. It is a demand made by the family through its attorney.

The university’s investigation will therefore be important in determining what happened before, during and after the collapse.

Extreme Heat Adds Another Layer to the Case

Weather conditions are another major factor surrounding the Matthew Mayich collapse.

Reports indicate that an extreme heat warning was in effect in the Phoenix area on Aug. 20. Earlier reporting said temperatures later reached approximately 106 degrees Fahrenheit in the afternoon, although the workout took place earlier in the morning.

Emergency responders reportedly categorized the original call as a heat-related illness.

That does not, by itself, establish that heat was the sole cause of Mayich’s medical emergency.

A complete understanding of the incident would require medical information and findings from the ongoing investigation. Public reporting has mentioned a potential cardiac event, but the full medical circumstances have not been released.

Because of that, claims about precisely what caused Mayich’s condition should be treated carefully until more evidence becomes available.

A Promising Hockey Career Interrupted

Matthew Mayich’s path to college hockey was built over several years.

He spent four seasons with the Ottawa 67’s in the OHL before joining Clarkson University. During his final OHL season, he recorded 42 points in 66 regular-season games, according to available player statistics.

Clarkson described him as a disciplined, two-way defenseman capable of moving the puck and playing a reliable defensive role.

After one season at Clarkson, Mayich transferred to Arizona State for the upcoming college hockey season.

His NHL rights remained with the Blues, who had selected him three years earlier.

The Matthew Mayich collapse therefore occurred at a pivotal point in his development. At only 21, he was still working toward the possibility of a professional hockey career.

What Happens Next?

For now, Mayich’s medical condition remains the most important concern.

His family continues to seek answers about what happened during the workout, while Arizona State’s investigation remains underway. The conflicting descriptions of the session mean that additional testimony, medical evidence, video and communications could become important.

The Blues and the wider hockey community have continued to express support for Mayich and his loved ones.

Until investigators release more information, it is important to separate confirmed facts from allegations and statements made by individual parties.

What is clear is that a young hockey player’s life changed dramatically on Aug. 20 during an outdoor workout in Tempe.

The Matthew Mayich collapse has since become a deeply concerning story for the college hockey and NHL communities, with supporters across North America hoping for answers and standing behind his family during an extraordinarily difficult time.

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Matthew Mayich collapse during Arizona State hockey workout

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Matthew Mayich was selected by the St. Louis Blues in the sixth round of the 2023 NHL Draft and later transferred to Arizona State.

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