Ottawa's junior hockey community is holding its breath for one of its former stars. Matthew Mayich, who suited up for the Ottawa 67's during his OHL career, is currently in hospital in Arizona following what the Ontario Hockey League is describing only as "an off-ice training incident."
The league confirmed the news in a brief statement, though details about the nature of the incident and Mayich's current condition have not been made public. For Ottawa hockey fans, the news hits close to home — Mayich spent time developing his game with the 67's, one of the city's most storied junior franchises and a regular producer of NHL-bound talent.
Who Is Matthew Mayich
Born in Hamilton, Mayich came up through minor hockey with the Hamilton Huskies before making his way to the OHL, where he played junior hockey with the Ottawa 67's. His time in the nation's capital helped put him on the radar of NHL scouts, and in 2023 the St. Louis Blues selected him in the draft — a milestone that validated years of development, including the stretch he spent wearing Ottawa's colours at TD Place.
Now 21 years old, Mayich had been continuing his development as a Blues prospect, with off-ice training a routine part of an NHL hopeful's schedule. That's what makes this incident especially jarring — it happened not in a game, but during the kind of conditioning work every prospect goes through in the off-season.
An Ottawa Connection That Runs Deep
The 67's have long been a launching pad for NHL talent, and alumni networks in this city run deep. Fans who followed the team during Mayich's tenure will remember him as part of a pipeline of young players who came through Ottawa on their way to the pros. News like this tends to travel fast through those circles — former teammates, coaches, and billet families who hosted him during his junior years are among those likely reacting to the update out of Arizona.
The OHL, which oversees leagues across Ontario including the Ottawa-based 67's, was the source of the announcement, underscoring how closely junior franchises track the wellbeing of alumni even after they've moved on to pro organizations.
What Happens Next
As of now, no further information has been released about Mayich's condition or the specifics of the training incident. The Blues organization has not issued additional comment beyond what the OHL confirmed. Given the uncertainty, updates are expected to come from either the OHL or the Blues in the coming days.
For Ottawa, where the 67's remain a central part of the city's sports identity, the hope is simply for a quick recovery for a player who once called the Ottawa ice home.
Source: CBC Ottawa
