Anaheim, California — St. Louis defenseman Jay Bouwmeester was conscious and alert after suffering a cardiac episode and collapsing on the bench during the first period of Tuesday’s game against the Anaheim Ducks.
The 36-year-old Bouwmeester crumpled over after a long shift and during a break in play. Blues general manager Doug Armstrong said Bouwmeester was awake, alert and moving his arms and legs as he was transported to a hospital. He remained in the hospital overnight and was undergoing further tests.
The Blues were supposed to fly to Las Vegas, where they are scheduled to play Thursday, but remained in Southern California. The team is expected to provide an update on Bouwmeester’s condition Wednesday.
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“Thankfully, with the quick response of our medical trainers, Anaheim medical trainers and their team physicians, they were able to stabilize Jay,” Armstrong said.
St. Louis’ radio announcer Chris Kerber said during an interview with the team’s flagship station that a defibrillator was used.
Teammates Vince Dunn and Alex Pietrangelo frantically called for help after Bouwmeester slumped over with 7:50 left in the first period, reports CBSSports.com’s Pete Blackburn. Eventually, the bench area was evacuated as medical staff tended to Bouwmeester, Blackburn said.
After a couple of minutes, Bouwmeester was taken out on a stretcher through a tunnel next to the Blues bench and brought to a hospital.
It happened during a TV timeout, Blackburn noted.
Bouwmeester appeared to be grabbing a drink of water when he began to slowly fall. Emergency medical personnel from both teams rushed to the Blues bench.
Bouwmeester’s father was at the game as part of the team’s annual Dads Trip. He went with his son to the hospital while teammates and their fathers remained at the arena awaiting updates.
Ducks and Blues players gathered to see what was wrong before Bouwmeester was taken away.
Players and coaches were visibly shaken up as a result of the incident and the atmosphere in the arena was extremely still in its aftermath, Blackburn says.
Both teams then went to their dressing rooms, and the game was called off a few minutes later, tied at 1.
Players from both teams met for hugs and well-wishes after changing out of their gear. The game will be made up at a later date.
Bouwmeester is in his 17th National Hockey League season and is known for his strong skating and conditioning. He helped the Blues win the Stanley Cup last season and won an Olympic gold medal with Canada in 2014.
Bouwmeester was skating in his 57th game this season, the 1,241st of his NHL career. He skated 1:20 in his last shift before collapsing, and logged 5:34 of ice time in the game.
The Blues signed the veteran defenseman to a $3.25 million, one-year deal for this season.
Bouwmeester held one of the longest ironman streaks in NHL history with 737 consecutive regular season games played until suffering a lower-body injury in 2014. He missed time in 2015-16 with a concussion, and a hip injury ended his 2017-18 season.
He played all but four games last year and hasn’t missed a game this season.
The last player to collapse on an NHL bench was Dallas forward Rich Peverley in 2014. Peverley had an irregular heartbeat, and the quick response of emergency officials resulted in his being OK.
The NHL has pages of emergency medical standards that spell out in specific detail that at least two doctors must be in attendance for every game and one must be within 50 feet of the bench. A defibrillator, which was used when Detroit’s Jiri Fischer collapsed in 2005, must be available, along with a triage room and ambulances.
