Rich Peverley, who plays hockey for the Dallas Stars, collapsed while sitting on the bench during the team’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets Monday night.

Rich Peverly Loses Consciousness

Peverley, 31, had just come off the ice after a couple minutes of play, six minutes and 23 seconds into the game, when he collapsed. Commentators calling the hockey match realized that something was going on over by the Dallas bench, and soon officials blew their whistles to suspend play. As the camera zoomed in on the bench, Stars players can be heard calling frantically for paramedics.

"When he dropped, it was red alert," coach Lindy Ruff told reporters after the game, according to USA Today Sports. "Don't worry about the game. Don't worry about anything else. Just turn around and scream for a doctor."

Doctors Stabalize Dallas Stars Player

Once the doctors got to Peverley, they were able to stabilize him, return him to consciousness and transport him to a local hospital.

“We treated [him] for a cardiac event successfully," Dr. Gil Salazar said after the game. "We provide oxygen for him. We started an IV. We did chest compressions on him and defibrillated him, provided some electricity to bring a rhythm back to his heart, and that was successful with one attempt, which is very reassuring. As soon as we treated him, he regained consciousness. He was able to tell me where he was."

Peverley’s cardiac event is likely due to his irregular heartbeat, for which he had surgery during the Star’s training camp. His condition, which includes the “abnormal quivering” of his heart, is monitored by the team. It’s unknown what future, if any, Peverley will have in the NHL going forward due to the severity of his heart troubles.

As for the Stars vs. Blue Jackets game, which was suspended in the aftermath of Peverley’s need for emergency care, the NHL hopes to reschedule it in the near future.

– Chelsea Regan

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