Mass. high school hockey player collapses after practice, dies; initial autopsy inconclusive

Mass. high school hockey player collapses, dies

HAVERHILL, Mass. — Authorities say an initial autopsy was inconclusive for a Massachusetts high school hockey player who collapsed and died after practice.

Seventeen-year-old Matthew McCarthy, of Merrimac, was a captain on a Pentucket Regional High School team.

The team was doing noncontact drills Tuesday at a rink in Haverhill (HAYV’-ril), north of Boston. Police say after practice the team gathered at center ice to talk with the coach when McCarthy collapsed.

Police say the teenager was treated at the rink before being taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Wednesday’s autopsy failed to show cause of death. The Essex County district attorney office says investigators are waiting for a toxicology report.