Sports / Massachusetts High School Hockey Player Sinks to Ice, Dies Team captain collapses during huddle By Mary Papenfuss, Newser Staff Posted Dec 30, 2009 3:53 AM CST Copied Matt McCarthy, team captain of the Pentucket Regional High School hockey team, collapsed and died after a series of non-contact skating drills. A 17-year-old Massachusetts hockey player suddenly collapsed on the ice during a practice huddle and died. Pentucket Regional High School team captain Matthew McCarthy had just finished non-contact skating drills and was listening to his coach when he crumpled to the ice. He was rushed to a local hospital where he was declared dead. An autopsy is being conducted today. (More Massachusetts stories.) Report an error