UPDATE ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12 AT 3:30 PM FOLLOWING PRESS CONFERENCE WITH BLUES GM DOUG ARMSTRONG, CAPTAIN ALEX PIETRANGELO, AND HEAD COACH CRAIG BERUBE
The Blues gave their first update regarding the condition of Jay Bouwmeester after the team arrived in Las Vegas. Doug Armstrong opened the press conference by reiterating that Bouwmeester’s condition is good but that he still remains at UC Irvine Medical Center with his father. Armstrong said that his first call after watching what was happening was to Bouwmeester’s wife Devon.
Armstrong made sure to once again praise the Blues and Ducks training and medical staffs for their quick response as well as the EMTs who helped revive him. Questions from the media than went to Pietrangelo, who said that he and his father visited Bouwmeester last night, which was important for him to see his teammate in person and know that he is doing well. Pietrangelo than said he Facetimed with the team which was good for everyone.
Armstrong then took questions from the media regarding the game being rescheduled. Because the schedule for both teams is so tight in the final two months of the season that some other games may have to be moved for either club. Armstrong also said that although the game was stopped at 1-1 with 7:50 left in the first period, the game will be replayed with a full 20-minute period but with the score 1-1.
Full press conference below:
UPDATED AT 11:29 PM WITH BLUES STATEMENT RELEASED BY PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER DOUG ARMSTRONG:
“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. 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.”
Following is the story reported prior to the team announcement:
The Blues were in Anaheim tonight where they were in a 1-1 battle with the Ducks when suddenly, with 7:50 remaining in the first period, Jay Bouwmeester, who had just finished a shift, collapsed on the bench. The Blues players were quick to respond with Vince Dunn frantically calling for help. The EMTs arrived quickly on the scene and eventually Bouwmeester on a stretcher, taking him down the Blues tunnel and to an ambulance where he was awake and had his eyes open.
Subsequently, broadcaster Chris Kerber reported that with this being the team’s dads trip, Bouwmeester’s father was at the game. He joined his son at the hospital. Kerber also reported that paddles were used on Bouwmeester. The automated external defibrillator is a computerized medical device that is battery powered with adhesive defibrillator pads and are applied to the chest to allow an electrical current to pass through to the heart to reset the normal electrical current.
Once Bouwmeester left the ice he was joined by both teams. The Ducks and Blues worked quickly together with the NHL to discuss their next move. According to announcer Darren Pang, head coaches Craig Berube and Dallas Eakins both said they didn’t think their players would be able to continue playing. The decision was then made to postpone the game until later in the season.
The Blues were originally set to travel to Las Vegas after the game for their Thursday meeting against the Golden Knights. However, with Bouwmeester in the hospital the club stayed in the Anaheim area Tuesday night.
