A young ice hockey player from Arizona State University (ASU) is currently receiving treatment in hospital following a concerning incident during a workout session. Matthew Mayich, a 21-year-old sophomore defenseman, collapsed on the morning of August 20 while exercising outdoors in Tempe, Arizona. His family has publicly identified him as the athlete involved.
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Emergency services were called to the scene after reports suggested he had suffered a heat-related illness. The Tempe Fire Medical Rescue teams arrived at ASU’s Joe Selleh Track at around 8:30 a.m. Mayich was subsequently transported to a hospital in Phoenix, where medical assessments indicated he may have experienced a cardiac event.
The precise circumstances surrounding his collapse remain unclear and an investigation led by ASU is currently underway. The local weather conditions have been extreme, with the region expecting to hit temperatures as high as 114 degrees Fahrenheit in the days following the incident, prompting concerns over heat stress during strenuous exercise.
In light of this distressing situation, the Canadian-Croatian Chamber of Commerce organised a virtual prayer service to rally support for Mayich and his family. The service, held on August 25, encouraged community members to come together to send positive thoughts and prayers. Their post on social media emphasised the importance of unity, stating, “Let’s come together as a community and show Matthew and his family our love, strength, and support.”
Victoria Beara, Mayich’s cousin, expressed the family’s gratitude for the outpouring of support. She remarked, “Even though we are going through this heartbreak, it is truly such a blessing to see everyone praying and just the impact Matthew has had on so many people.”
This incident took place on one of the first days of ASU’s fall semester and has drawn attention to sports safety, especially during extreme weather. Officials at ASU have confirmed that they are looking into the events leading up to Mayich’s collapse in hopes of preventing similar occurrences in the future.
Prior to joining ASU, Matthew Mayich began his collegiate hockey career at Clarkson University in New York. His talent was recognised when he was selected in the sixth round of the NHL draft by the St. Louis Blues earlier this summer, marking him as a promising prospect in the sport.
As the investigation continues, both ASU and the City of Tempe have not provided further comments regarding the situation, leaving many in the community concerned for the young athlete’s health and well-being.
Throughout the ordeal, support for Mayich has remained strong, with fans and friends rallying behind him during this challenging time. As his recovery progresses, updates from his family and ASU are keenly awaited by those who know and admire the burgeoning hockey player.