St. Louis Blues Prospect in Coma With ‘Zero Chance of Recovery’

A tragic story for the St. Louis Blues and 21-year-old prospect Matthew Mayich. The Arizona State University player is in a coma with "zero chance of recovery" after collapsing during what The Athletic called a "military-style" team workout. 

College Hockey News has spoken to Matthew Mayich's family's attorney, Rob Carey. He confirmed Mayich has "zero chance of recovery" and that Carey is conducting his own investigation to determine next steps. He criticized Arizona State's handling of the situation. More to follow.

— College Hockey News (@chnews) September 1, 2026

The player's lawyer wants answers and says the school is failing to properly investigate the incident that occured during the "excessively grueling" workout led by an ex-Green Beret. 

Attorney Robert Carey said Mayich has "zero chance of recovery," and that his family "had no faith the university would conduct a complete and impartial inquiry."

Blues prospect collapsed during 'military-style workout' in Arizona desert heat

The intense workout was held outdoors in scorching near-90-degree Arizona desert heat at the ASU campus. The players called the session "unbearably hard," while the school continues to push a narrative about "how minimal, how soft and how easy" the workout was. 

Carey said players told him that "they were forced to go through a series of intensive workouts without standard breaks while the ex-soldier running the drills yelled at them from the get-go ... like a drill instructor."

Additionally, said Carey, players were told not to complain, and water was available only to those who did better in the exercises rather than those who fell behind. 

Mayich, who was a sixth-round draft pick of the Blues in 2023, showed obvious signs of distress and "was disoriented and struggled well before he collapsed," Carey said.

The Hamilton, Ontario native played at Clarkson University in Potsdam, New York last season, where he recorded 15 points in 34 games in his freshman season in the NCAA. He transfered to ASU for what would have been his second college season. He spent his four-year junior career with the Ottawa 67s in the OHL. 

College Hockey News writer Adam Wodon says "it's at least within the realm of possibility that Arizona State does not have a hockey season," as a result of this tragic event.