A St. Louis Blues player suddenly collapsed in the middle of an NHL game after experiencing a cardiac episode

Kelly McLaughlin

Feb 12, 2020, 23:45 IST

A St. Louis Blues player suddenly collapsed in the middle of an NHL game after experiencing a cardiac episode

Sergei Belski/USA TODAY Sports

St. Louis Blues defenseman Jay Bouwmeester.

St. Louis Blues defensemen Jay Bouwmeester collapsed after experiencing a cardiac episode during a game against the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday night.
What exactly happened to Bouwmeester remains unclear, but when he got to the hospital he was "conscious and alert."
Tuesday night's game against the Ducks, which was tied 1-1 when Bouwmeester collapsed, was postponed to an undetermined date.
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An NHL game was postponed after veteran St. Louis Blues defensemen Jay Bouwmeester experienced a cardiac episode and collapsed during his team's game against the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday night.

Bouwmeester was sitting on the bench during the game's first period at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, when he collapsed, according to the St. Louis Dispatch.

"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," a statement from the Blues said. "Thankfully, with the quick response of our medical trainers, Anaheim medical trainers and their team physicians, they were able to stabilize Jay."

The 36-year-old was put on a stretcher and taken to a nearby hospital. It was the team's annual Dads' Trip, where 21 fathers were on the road with the team, so Bouwmeester's father was by his side when he was taken to the hospital.

It's unclear what exactly happened to Bouwmeester, but Blues general manager Doug Armstrong released a statement Tuesday night about the incident, saying the hockey player was feeling better.

"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," he said to the St Louis Dispatch.

Bouwmeester, who's in his 17th NHL season, had completed one minute and 20 seconds of play, and was reaching for a drink of water when he fell, according to ESPN. His teammates quickly called for medical help.

The defenseman did not appear to experience any hits to his head during his playing time.

Tuesday night's game, which was called off while tied 1-1, was postponed to an undetermined date.

The Blues were expected to fly to Las Vegas on Tuesday night ahead of a Thursday game, but remained in California while Bouwmeester was in the hospital.