Cardiac Event Ends Rich Peverley’s Season, May End His Career

Dallas Stars forward Rich Peverley is done for the season, and may be forced to hang up the skates for good. Peverley, who collapsed during the Stars-Blue Jacket game Monday night, appeared at a press conference at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, thanking the medical staff that saved his life:

“I’d like to thank the number of people who saved my life. They all attended to me once I passed out and they saved my life. I will forever be grateful.”

Peverley, who also thanked the Stars Organization, his coach Lindy Ruff and his family, deferred the medical questions to the physicians. Peverley, who was offered treatment with medication or surgery in the pre-season, made the decision to forgo corrective surgery so that he could start the season with the Stars. In discussing Peverley’s decision to delay the surgery, Dimeoff said that Peverley was concerned about not playing for his new team: “It likely would keep him out for two, three months, maybe longer, depending, and so he said, ‘I’m new to the team. It’s a new coach, a new general manager. I only have a two-year contract. They’ve got to know that I can play this game,’ and that sort of thing. So we went back and forth.” That surgery, called an ablation, will take take place within the next few days. The surgery will prohibit Peverley playing any further this season, regardless of how long the Stars should take their post season run.

Dr. Robert Dimeff, who treated Peverley, refused to speculate on Peverley’s ability to return to the NHL. Dimeff stated that Peverley will return to the Cleveland Clinic to treat his genetic heart condition, called atrial fibrillation. Dimeff did state Peverley’s condition is ” a very minor cardiac abnormality” but again, refused to discuss Peverley’s future ability to play again in the NHL. Peverley, who was understandably shaky during the entire news conference, remains hospitalized.

Peverley was traded to Stars, along with Tyler Seguin, from the Boston Bruins during the off season. He played in sixty-two games this season, missing two with an irregular heartbeat. He has seven goals and twenty three assists on the season, along with fifteen penalty minutes.

Peverley’s collapse caused another Stars player to be hospitalized. Eighteen year old rookie Alex Chiasson was so shaken by the incident that he was briefly admitted and released after the Stars decided it was best he did not play. Chiasson did not travel with the Stars for their game in St. Louis. The Stars won that game, 3-2, without Peverley or Chiasson. The team called up Colton Scevious and Chris Mueller to fill out the roster.

[Image of Dallas Players courtesy NHL.com]