Arizona State investigating circumstances surrounding collapse of Blues prospect

Arizona State University is investigating the circumstances surrounding the collapse and hospitalization of a member of their men’s hockey team, according to Chris Fiscus, vice president of ASU media relations.

The player (who was initially reported under anonymity but has now been confirmed as St. Louis Blues prospect Matthew Mayich by a person close to the family) collapsed on Thursday morning due to a “heat-related illness” while completing a workout outdoors at Sun Angel Stadium. He was sent to the hospital, and has remained there since the incident.

Despite the reports, the university has yet to confirm the identity of the player. It’s unclear what the university is investigating at this time.

Fiscus had declined to confirm if the workout was sanctioned by the university’s hockey team, the Arizona State Sun Devils, when the collapse first became publicly-known on Sunday. NCAA rules allow college hockey teams to begin formal activities when classes have started. Arizona State began its fall semester the same day as the hospitalization.

An extreme heat warning had been in effect all week in the Phoenix area, with the average temperature that day coming at around 92.5 degrees Fahrenheit (33.6 degrees Celsius), while reaching a high of 106 Fahrenheit (41.1 Celsius). According to Weather Underground’s weather history, it was 82.4 Fahrenheit (28 Celsius) when medical was called to the university at 8:31 a.m. Mountain Standard Time.

Mayich, a defenseman, was the sixth-round draft pick for the Blues in the 2023 NHL Draft. He spent the past season with Clarkson University, where he had seven goals and eight assists for 15 points in 34 games.

The hospitalization comes more than a month before the start of the season for Arizona State’s men’s ice hockey team. They’re set to play a doubleheader against the Lindenwood Lions in St. Charles, Missouri on October 2nd and 3rd, while their first home game of the season will come a week later with a doubleheader against the Holy Cross Crusaders on October 9th and 10th.