Flyers goalie Michal Neuvirth collapses on ice during stop in action

Watch as Flyers goalie Michal Neuvirth gets stretchered off the ice after collapsing out of nowhere.

Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Michal Neuvirth collapsed in his crease during a stop in action Saturday.

The incident occurred midway through the first period of a game between the Flyers and New Jersey Devils. Prior to a faceoff outside the Flyers’ zone, Neuvirth was seen crouching over his pads before falling to his back.

A nervous hush fell over the crowd at the Wells Fargo Center as medical staff attended to the 29-year-old. A stretcher was immediately brought onto the ice. Neuvirth was moving his extremities and was eventually seen rubbing his eyes with his hand. He was eventually taken off the ice on the stretcher.

Flyers general manager Ron Hextall released the following statement:

“Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Michal Neuvirth is awake and alert and is being taken to Pennsylvania Hospital for observation. We will have more information tomorrow.”

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Neuvirth collapsing like that is reminiscent of a scary incident involving Ondrej Pavelec that took place in October 2010 when Pavelec represented the Atlanta Thrashers in a game against the Washington Capitals. Pavelec had what doctors referred to as a neurocardiogenic syncope episode, or a fainting spell, and he also suffered a concussion when he hit his head on the ice. Neuvirth, who began his career with the Capitals, happened to be the goalie at the opposite end of the rink in the game when Pavelec collapsed.

It’s unclear at this time what caused Neuvirth to collapse.

Neuvirth was replaced by Flyers’ third-string goalie Anthony Stolarz. The 23-year-old was recalled from the AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms earlier Saturday after Steve Mason, who was supposed to get the start over Neuvirth, fell ill.

The Flyers announced Eric Semborski dressed to serve as Stolarz’s backup. Semborski is a Temple University graduate and the current Hockey Director at the Northeast Flyers Skate Zone. According to the Flyers, Semborski signed an ATO with the Chicago Blackhawks to serve as an emergency backup in a game against the Flyers on Dec. 3, 2016 at the Wells Fargo Center.

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