The family of St. Louis Blues prospect Matthew Mayich has received the most devastating update possible.
Robert “Rob” Carey, the attorney representing Mayich’s family, told The Arizona Republic that the 21-year-old defenseman now has “zero chance of recovery” after collapsing during an Arizona State University hockey workout on Aug. 20. Mayich has remained in a coma since the incident and is being treated at Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix.
Carey, a former Arizona deputy attorney general and partner at Hagens Berman, said he has already interviewed multiple ASU players. He accused the university of failing to conduct a proper investigation and of circulating an unofficial narrative that the session was “minimal,” “soft,” and “easy.” Players he spoke with, Carey said, described the workout as “grueling” and “unbearably hard.”
He is calling for members of the hockey staff to be placed on administrative leave while the circumstances of the workout are reviewed, arguing that players fear retaliation if they speak freely. Carey also said his firm intends to pursue emails, text messages, and video connected to the incident.
Arizona State has said it is reviewing what happened. The university has not publicly accepted the family attorney’s allegations or offered a matching medical update of its own. Athletic director Graham Rossini previously described the school’s process as a review of the facts rather than a formal investigation into wrongdoing.
Mayich collapsed during an outdoor session at ASU’s Joe Selleh Track near Sun Angel Stadium on the first official day of the fall semester — the earliest NCAA rules allow hockey teams to begin formal activities. Tempe Fire Medical Rescue was called around 8:30 a.m. for a reported heat-related illness. Temperatures at the time were in the upper 80s.
Multiple people briefed on the workout told The Athletic it lasted about 50 to 60 minutes and included sprints, planks, push-ups, and bear crawls, with an emphasis on repeating instructions and keeping count. The session was led by Tim Ziesel, a former Green Beret and non-university employee. Ziesel’s attorney has disputed characterizations of the workout as unusually severe.
St. Louis selected Mayich in the sixth round, 170th overall, of the 2023 NHL Draft. The 6-foot-3 defenseman from Stoney Creek, Ontario, played four seasons with the Ottawa 67’s in the OHL before a freshman year at Clarkson, where he recorded seven goals and eight assists in 34 games. He transferred to Arizona State for 2026-27 and had not signed an entry-level contract with the Blues.
Last week the organization issued a statement through president of hockey operations Doug Armstrong: “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. His agent has kept us informed about Matthew’s medical status over the last week and we extend our deepest support to his family, friends and teammates during this difficult time.”
This is no longer only a prospect or college-hockey story. It is a 21-year-old player and a family facing an outcome no one wanted. Thoughts remain with Matthew Mayich and everyone close to him.
