Hamilton-born NHL prospect Matthew Mayich hospitalized after 'training incident,' OHL says

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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. Now 21, he played minor hockey with the Hamilton Huskies and was drafted by the St. Louis Blues in 2023.

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

Justin Chandler · CBC News

· Posted: Aug 26, 2026 5:24 PM EDT | Last Updated: 4 minutes ago

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A young white man with brown wavy hair in a St. Louis Blues jersey over top a collared shirt.
Matthew Mayich, a Hamilton-born defenceman, is seen in a St. Louis Blues jersey in a photo shared by the NHL team on Wednesday. Mayich, 21, is in an Arizona hospital after an off-ice training incident, the OHL says. (St. Louis Blues)

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, but there was no response by publication time.

"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," Doug Armstrong, the Blues' president of hockey operations, said Wednesday.

In a news release, Armstrong said the organization extends its "deepest support to his family, friends and teammates during this difficult time."

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."

“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.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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.

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