Ottawa hockey fans are used to following the 67's through wins and losses, but this season is starting with something far heavier than a scoreboard. The team heads into the 2026-27 OHL campaign grappling with the news that former defenceman Matthew Mayich collapsed and was hospitalized in Arizona, a shock that has rippled through the organization just as training camp wraps up.
A Tight-Knit Room Facing a Hard Reality
Junior hockey teams like the 67's are built on close quarters: dressing rooms, bus rides, billet families, and years of shared history. Mayich wore the Ottawa jersey and built relationships with teammates and staff who are now watching from afar as he recovers. Coaches and players around the club have described the atmosphere heading into puck drop as heavy, with one person close to the team calling it an "incredibly difficult time" to be pulling on the sweater and getting ready for opening night.
That kind of language from inside a pro or junior locker room is rare, and it says a lot about how much this has affected the group. Even players who never suited up alongside Mayich directly are feeling the weight of it, since the 67's alumni network in Ottawa is small and tightly connected.
What This Means for the Season Ahead
The 67's still have a full 68-game OHL schedule ahead of them, and Ottawa fans filling the seats at TD Place will be watching a team trying to balance competitive hockey with genuine concern for a former player. Sports psychologists often note that news like this can either rattle a locker room or bring it closer together, and 67's management will be leaning on veteran leadership to keep the group focused while still allowing space to process what happened.
For the city, the 67's are more than just an OHL franchise. They're a staple of Ottawa's winter sports calendar, drawing families, students, and long-time hockey diehards downtown all season long. When something affects a player who wore the barber pole, it resonates well beyond the current roster, touching alumni, billet families, and fans who have followed the franchise for years.
Ottawa Rallying Around One of Its Own
Ottawa has a history of showing up for its athletes in moments like this, whether through arena tributes, social media support, or simply keeping a name in the conversation. Expect the 67's organization to find ways to acknowledge Mayich publicly as the season gets underway, whether that's a moment at TD Place or statements from players and coaching staff addressing how the team is coping.
As the puck drops on a new OHL season, the 67's will be carrying more than just playoff hopes into their games this fall. They'll be carrying the well wishes of a city that's hoping for good news out of Arizona, and a locker room trying to play through one of the harder stretches in recent memory.
Source: Ottawa Citizen
