More than two years ago, Detroit Red Wings defenseman Jiri Fischer collapsed on the bench at Joe Louis Arena during a game against the Nashville Predators. Fischer suffered cardiac arrest and was taken from the ice on a stretcher. What caused Fischer's seizure was -- and remains -- something of a mystery. The game was halted, the first time in NHL history that a game had been suspended due to injury.
Fast forward to Wendler Arena in Saginaw, MI, last night. For the first time since Fischer's collapse, Fischer took the ice to play in a hockey game. The event was the "Shocks and Saves" charity game at Wendler Arena, where a crowd of 1,000 or so came out for Fischer's Healthy Hope Foundation. Proceeds helped raise funds for devices such at that which revived Fischer during his incident in 2005.
Still only 27 years old, the chances of Fischer returning to competitive hockey remain slim, but he will not rule it out completely...
"There's always chances on anything. Right now everything is hypothetical so I just enjoy every day. I just take it as it goes and I work towards getting healthy, and hopefully I can achieve that."
It is cliche to say that whether he skates in the NHL again is unimportant compared to the life given back to him. But for one night he had the chance to lace 'em up again, and that was cause for smiles all around.
No comments:
Post a Comment