Hamilton

Hamilton-born NHL prospect Matthew Mayich in Arizona hospital after 'training incident,' OHL says

St. Louis Blues official says 21-year-old defenceman is undergoing medical treatment

NHL prospect Matthew Mayich, who was born in Hamilton and played junior hockey with the Ottawa 67's, is in hospital in Arizona following "an off-ice training incident," says the Ontario Hockey League.

The OHL said it's "sending thoughts, prayers and support" to Mayich, 21.

The St. Louis Blues drafted the defenceman in the sixth round of the 2023 NHL draft.

Mayich's player record says he played minor hockey with the Hamilton Huskies between 2016 and 2020 before joining the 67's.

The OHL said reports indicate he was hospitalized while preparing for the 2026-27 season in Arizona on Aug. 20.

St. Louis Blues 'pray' for Mayich's recovery

CBC Hamilton reached out to ask Arizona State University, where Mayich is listed as a player, if he was injured at the Tempe school.

The university said a student on the hockey team collapsed during an outdoor morning exercise session and remains hospitalized. It said it's not naming the student and is “reviewing the circumstances surrounding the workout.”

Doug Armstrong, the Blues' president of hockey operations, said in a news release, "The entire Blues organization is keeping Matthew Mayich close to our hearts as we pray for his comfort and recovery while he continues to undergo medical treatment in Arizona."

The organization extends its "deepest support" to his family, friends and teammates during this difficult time," Armstrong said.

OHL commissioner Bryan Crawford shared a similar message in the league's news release, saying, “Our thoughts are with Matthew, his parents John and Christina, and the entire Mayich family."

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“Matthew spent four seasons in our league and earned the respect of everyone he played with and against," Crawford said. "The entire Ontario Hockey League is thinking of him and pulling for him, and we are keeping his family close in our thoughts."

The Huskies — now the Hamilton Steel Hockey Club — posted congratulatory messages to Mayich in 2021 when he signed with the '67s and in 2023 when the Blues selected him.

The Huskies said he'd played with the organization since he was nine years old.

Justin Chandler is a CBC News reporter in Hamilton. He covers stories of all kinds from places including picket lines, court rooms, council meetings and research labs. Justin has a special interest in how public policy affects people, and loves a quirky human-interest story. Before CBC Hamilton, he worked for TVO and on a variety of CBC teams and programs. He co-hosted Radio Free Krypton on Met Radio.