Blues’ Jay Bouwmeester on cardiac incident: ‘I am on the road to recovery’

The St. Louis Blues thanked the staff and medical professionals in Anaheim, and updated fans, on Jay Bouwmeester after his collapse in a game against the Ducks.

St. Louis Blues defenceman Jay Bouwmeester is back in St. Louis a week after suffering a cardiac incident that postponed a Blues game against the Anaheim Ducks.

After being tended to on the ice and rushed to a hospital in Anaheim, Bouwmeester had an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) procedure to restore his heart’s normal rhythm last Friday.

The 36-year-old was monitored by a team of specialists at the hospital until he was cleared to return to St. Louis.

“I would sincerely like to thank all of the trainers from both the St. Louis Blues and Anaheim Ducks, as well as all of the first responders, the Anaheim medical staff and the team at the UCI Medical Center for their quick actions on Feb. 11,” Bouwmeester said in a statement released this Tuesday. “Our family has felt the support of the entire National Hockey League family and the city of St. Louis during this time. We have all been greatly comforted by your genuine concern.

“On Sunday evening, I returned to St. Louis and I am on the road to recovery. My wife and daughters are forever grateful for everyone’s support and we will continue to have a positive outlook for our future.”

Bouwmeester was unresponsive after a long shift in the game against Anaheim, and had to be revived with a defibrillator after collapsing on the ice on Feb. 11.

The Blues-Ducks game will be made up on March 11.

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