Matthew Mayich was doing everything right. The 21-year-old defenseman from Ontario was a draft pick for the St. Louis Blues, starting his first season at Arizona State University. On August 20, he took part in an outdoor workout in Tempe, Arizona. The temperature that day reached 106 degrees. Mayich collapsed, and according to his family’s lawyer, he is now incapacitated, with recovery described as “highly unlikely.” It’s a devastating outcome for a young man who had his entire career ahead of him.
The story is a sobering reminder that extreme heat doesn’t discriminate. Dr. Frank LoVecchio, an emergency physician and ASU professor, put it plainly: “It doesn’t take long to burn brain cells, and your temperature could rise very, very quickly.” That warning applies to everyone, from elite athletes training for professional sports to local residents just trying to get through a summer afternoon. ASU says it’s reviewing the circumstances of the workout, and the Blues have expressed support for Mayich and his family, but the questions remain. Should outdoor training sessions have heat-related limits? And what responsibilities do schools and coaches have to protect their players?
For those of us living on the Suncoast, heat is just part of life. We know the signs of heat exhaustion, and we know to stay hydrated. But this tragedy shows that even people in the best shape of their lives can be vulnerable. It’s worth asking yourself: do you really know the limits of what your body can handle in the heat? Do your kids or grandkids know when to stop? Matthew Mayich’s story is a warning that no one should ignore, no matter where you live or how fit you are.
