Hockey player has seizure during game

[StooGrimson]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10145255/

Wings’ Fischer stable after suffering seizure

Defenseman hospitalized after heart restarted on bench; game postponed

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Updated: 3:12 a.m. ET Nov. 22, 2005

DETROIT - Red Wings defenseman Jiri Fischer collapsed on the Detroit bench late in the first period of Monday night’s game against the Nashville Predators and was hospitalized in stable condition.
The team announced that Fischer had a seizure and was doing fine. Red Wings coach Mike Babcock later said Fischer’s heart had stopped and was restarted at the arena.
“They hooked up the auto defibrillator and shocked him,” Babcock said.
advertisement Fischer was also given CPR at the bench by team physician Dr. Tony Colucci before the 25-year-old native of the Czech Republic was removed on a stretcher.


“He’s been described as very jovial,” said team spokesman John Hahn, who added that Fischer was visited by teammates. “He’ll be here in the hospital the next two days undergoing some further testing.”
The Red Wings said they would hold a news conference following practice Tuesday afternoon to update Fischer’s condition.
Fischer logged 4 minutes, 52 seconds of playing time — covering six shifts. He recorded one hit and was on the ice when Nashville’s Greg Johnson scored the game’s only goal. That occurred just 1:02 before the game was halted.
No makeup date was immediately announced.
As fans were still filing out of the arena, Hahn said Fischer was taken to Detroit Receiving Hospital and was stable, breathing on his own and responsive.
“It’s our understanding, the reports from the hospital, that he is fine and he will be fine,” Babcock said.
Fischer was diagnosed with a heart abnormality in September 2002, causing him to miss two days of practice. The problem was found on an electrocardiogram as part of a routine battery of tests during the Red Wings’ preseason physicals.
When the result was abnormal, Fischer was given a stress test that he passed. He said that his heart essentially is a little thicker than normal.
“I wasn’t scared about the abnormality,” Fischer said at the time. “But I was scared about not playing hockey again. That was a shock for me.”
Play was stopped with 7:30 left in the period after the Red Wings alerted officials to a problem. Medical personnel worked on Fischer at the door to the bench for several minutes before he was wheeled back toward the Red Wings dressing room.
“First of all, everybody is definitely caught by surprise,” Red Wings captain Steve Yzerman said. “We turn and see Jiri laying between the boards and the bench and we’re not sure why.
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“You fear for the guy’s life at that moment. I can’t remember anything like that.”
The decision was made to resurface the ice then, and the remaining time was to be added to the second period. But the game was postponed instead.
“It was obvious to everybody involved that it was the right decision,” Predators coach Barry Trotz said. “It was very disturbing to both sides and I think the NHL recognized it, the players recognized it. To be quite honest, the game became very secondary. When a friend or a teammate was in danger like Jiri was in, then the decision was made for everybody to reschedule it.”
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</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>It was not immediately clear whether the game would be played in its entirety or resume from the point of the stoppage.
“Our primary objective is that Jiri is taken care of,” Trotz said.
Red Wings forward Brendan Shanahan helped escort Fischer’s fiancee, Avery, across the ice to the bench area.
“Obviously, she was very worried and concerned. She just wanted to be next to Jiri,” Shanahan said.

[Brutus1]

On a related note, I noticed on the ESPN ticker last night that they said
"Fischer hit in throat with stick". It essentially said he was hit in the throat
by a stick!

Now, why say he was hit in the throat if it has nothing to do with the stick? I guess it's just another example of irresponsible journalism.

That sounds like a serious problem for Fischer, at least as far as his hockey career is concerned.

[Golferdow01]

I saw this last night, and it was really scary. You saw the team suddenly summmon the physician over and he does his routine check, then out of nowhere starts to perform CPR. After that the camera finally cut out. I hope he is doing better today

[jimotis4heisman]

not just a hockey player, a helluva player

and iwth what happened up there a few years ago, i agree.

[AKAKBUCK]

Update


Red Wings GM: Fischer ``doing very, very well''

By DAVID RUNK, Associated Press Writer
November 22, 2005

AP - Nov 22, 2:50 pm EST
More Photos


DETROIT (AP) -- Detroit Red Wings defenseman Jiri Fischer was "doing very, very well" Tuesday, a day after he collapsed on the bench during a game and a defibrillator was used to help revive him.

"It's been a tough 12 hours for our organization," Ken Holland said at a news conference at Joe Louis Arena. "The great news is that Jiri Fischer is doing very, very well."

Holland and team physician Tony Colucci -- who performed CPR on Fischer on the bench Monday night -- said the player was "in good spirits."

Fischer, 25, was in good condition after he began having convulsions on the bench late in the first period of a game against the Nashville Predators. Colucci wasn't able to detect a pulse after Fischer collapsed, and an auto defibrillator was used on Fischer.

After performing CPR, Colucci said he detected a good pulse and Fischer was taken out of the arena by ambulance to Detroit Receiving Hospital. Colucci said Fischer's heart might have stopped, but he didn't know for how long.

Fischer's blood pressure and heart rate were stable by the time he got to the hospital.

"There's no way to speculate on what triggered it," Colucci said.



The team had announced to the crowd Monday night that Fischer had a seizure, but Red Wings coach Mike Babcock later said Fischer's heart had to be restarted. "His heart was stopped," Babcock said.

On Tuesday, when asked how long Fischer's heart had stopped, Colucci said: "Sometimes when you're feeling for a pulse you can't really say did it stop, or does he have a very weak, thready pulse."

Colucci said he didn't know when Fischer could play again or how long he will remain in the hospital.

"We're going to evaluate him on a daily basis," he said.

The Red Wings practiced Tuesday ahead of Wednesday's home game. Afterward, players and Babcock said their thoughts remained with Fischer as they prepared to play the Colorado Avalanche.

"You just think about how bad Jiri Fischer would like to be playing hockey," Babcock said. "We have that chance. We better make good on that chance."

Fischer was diagnosed with a heart abnormality in September 2002, causing him to miss two days of practice. The problem was found on an electrocardiogram as part of a routine battery of tests during the Red Wings' preseason physicals.

Colucci said Tuesday that tests were being conducted to determine whether the convulsions were related to the abnormality. When the 2002 result came back, Fischer was given a stress test that he passed. He said his heart essentially is a little thicker than normal.

Team owner Mike Ilitch, Fischer's fiancee, teammates and coaches visited the Czech Republic native in small groups Monday night in the hospital.

Play was stopped with 7:30 left in the period after the Red Wings alerted officials to a problem. Medical personnel worked on Fischer at the door to the bench for several minutes before he was wheeled back toward the Red Wings dressing room.

Holland said Red Wings management consulted with the players, the Predators and the NHL and made the decision to postpone the game.

Holland said it hasn't yet been decided when the game will be played.

[OurHonorDefend]

I'm a huge Red Wings fan I was watching it as it happened. It was one of the scariest things I've ever watched. I've watched most every game Jiri has played in for the last 6 years, so you kind of feel an attachment there that is more than just a sports player. I'm glad that he's ok now, I'm just glad he gets to get married and live a normal life even if he never plays hockey again. It was extremely upsetting and they made the correct call in cancelling the game.