Blues’ Jay Bouwmeester had ‘cardiac episode’ on bench during Tuesday’s game
There was a scary scene on the St. Louis Blues’ bench during Tuesday’s game against the Ducks in Anaheim.
Defenseman Jay Bouwmeester was on the bench when he collapsed and needed immediate medical attention. Bouwmeester was taken to a hospital.
St. Louis general manager Doug Armstrong provided an update in a news release late Tuesday night, saying Bouwmeester had regained consciousness.
“With 7:50 remaining in the first period of our game tonight, Jay Bouwmeester suffered a cardiac episode and collapsed on our bench after completing his shift,” Armstrong said in the release. “Thankfully, with the quick response of our medical trainers, Anaheim medical trainers and their team physicians, they were able to stabilize Jay.
“He was alert and moving all of his extremities as he was transported to UC Irvine Medical Center. Currently, Jay is conscious and alert as he undergoes further testing by Anaheim’s physicians. We will update Jay’s condition on Wednesday morning.”
Television cameras caught the frightful moment:
The Blues-Ducks game was postponed after Bouwmeester was taken from the arena.
On Wednesday afternoon, Armstrong provided another update on Bouwmeester
“Jay Bouwmeester is doing very well at the UCI Irvine Medical Center in Anaheim,” Armstrong said. “Jay is currently undergoing a battery of tests to determine the how and the why of what happened last night, but things are looking very positive. ...
“There is never a good time for something like this to take place, but there could not have been a better location than the Honda Center. Thanks again to everyone involved at the Honda Center and the Ducks organization for their life-saving efforts.”
Armstrong said Bouwmeester had a cardiac episode in the first period on the Blues bench and was unresponsive, but medical personnel used a defibrillator to revive him. He regain consciousness immediately and was transported to the medical center.
The Blues will play their game Thursday in Las Vegas as scheduled.
Other NHL teams sent their support to Bouwmeester and the Blues:
This story was originally published February 12, 2020 at 8:50 AM.
