NHL prospect Matthew Mayich suffered a heat stroke during a military-style outdoor workout, according to his family's lawyer.
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Mayich, a 21-year-old defenseman drafted by the St. Louis Blues in the 2023 National Hockey League entry draft, also lost oxygen to his brain on Aug.20 during the intense exercise at Arizona State University, his alma mater.
NHL Prospect Fighting For His Life After Grueling Workout
Rob Carey, the attorney representing his family, has stated that Mayich has "zero chance of recovery."
"This injury is from exertional heat stroke that caused a lack of oxygen to the brain," Carey told ESPN.
"There were no other contributing conditions, only exertion-related heat. This is not an induced coma," Carey told the outlet, adding, "We need a miracle."
Carey has publicly criticized ASU for their mishandling of Mayich's medical emergency.
According to Carey, Mayich was left on the ground for several minutes following his collapse, which runs contrary to ASU policy. Mayich should have been rushed immediately to a cooling station or dunked in an ice bath. However, no cooling plans were in place.
School guidelines say the first choice for treating heat illness "is with immediate cold water immersion," even if an athlete is fully clothed. They say "a cold tub half-filled with water" should be ready for immediate use. Three to four coolers of ice should be next to the tub to use in case of emergency.
"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," said Carey, as per the CBC. "Obviously there's something wrong."
Carey told ESPN that Mayich became disoriented and dizzy in the moments before he collapsed on the track. The NHL draftee was also given "minimal water" during the workout. The incident took place while Arizona was under an extreme heat warning, according to a local weather report.
Mayich has remained hospitalized in a coma since the grueling workout last month.
ASU Sends Support to Hospitalized Student-Athlete
Arizona State University expressed support for the NHL prospect on social media.
"Thinking of you 27 ?," the statement read, which was issued by the team via X on Saturday, September 5. "Matthew — your ASU teammates and the entire Sun Devil community are keeping you and your family in our thoughts and prayers during this incredibly difficult time."
