Born	July 31, 1980 (1980-07-31) (age 29), Horovice, CZE
Height Weight	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 225 lb (102 kg; 16 st 1 lb)
Position	Defence
Shoots	Left
NHL team	Detroit Red Wings
NHL Draft	25th overall, 1998 Detroit Red Wings
Pro career	1999 – 2005

Jiří Fischer (July 31, 1980 in Hořovice, Czechoslovakia, now Czech Republic) is a former professional ice hockey defenceman in the NHL, who has not played since November 2005 after suffering cardiac arrest in a game against the Nashville Predators. Fischer is currently director of player development for the Detroit Red Wings.

Fischer was selected in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft in the first round, 25th overall, by the Red Wings, and was a part of the team that won the 2002 Stanley Cup.

Contents 1 Endorsement work 2 Heart trouble 3 Notes 4 External links

[edit] Endorsement work

In 2003, Fischer appeared with fellow NHL defenseman Chris Pronger in a television commercial for Dodge Ram trucks. The commercial featured a black Ram truck running along a track, which then smashes into a wall. Fischer and Pronger, along with two other unnamed players, exit the truck in full hockey gear. Pronger then intones "I've been hit harder," and Fischer answers "Me too." The commercial was played during the 2003 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs. Neither defenseman were playing at the time as both were recovering from torn anterior cruciate ligament injuries when the commercial was filmed.

[edit] Heart trouble

During a game on November 21, 2005, against the Nashville Predators, Fischer collapsed on the bench after going into cardiac arrest. After being unconscious for six minutes, Fischer was resuscitated by CPR and by an Automated External Defibrillator, and was taken to Detroit Receiving Hospital. The hockey game was postponed due to Fischer's injury, and was made up on January 23, 2006. This marked the first time in NHL history a game had been postponed due to injury. The makeup game was played for the full 60 minutes, though the Predators were allowed to maintain their 1-0 lead from the original game. Nashville ultimately won by a score of 3-2.

Fischer was released from the hospital on November 23, 2005. Although the exact cause of Fischer's collapse remained unknown, team physician Tony Colucci indicated that Fischer's heart may have experienced either ventricular tachycardia, a type of racing heartbeat, or ventricular fibrillation, a heart fluttering^[1]. Doctors ordered Fischer to avoid all physical activity for four to six weeks, and no prognosis was made on whether or not he would be able to continue his hockey career. Fischer continued to suffer heart trouble after the in-game incident. On November 28, Fischer suffered a "brief, abnormal cardiac rhythm", while at his home in Detroit. He was released from the hospital two days later.

Fischer's future as a hockey player remained in question over a year after his collapse before Fischer ultimately retired as a player and became the Red Wings' director of player development.

[edit] Notes

[edit] External links

• Jiří Fischer's career stats at The Internet Hockey Database
• The Healthy Hope Jiri Fischer Foundation
• Bio from Yahoo! Sports
• Fight card at hockeyfights.com

Wikinews has related news: Fischer suffers seizure, collapses during Red Wings game

Preceded by Jesse Wallin

Detroit Red Wings first round draft pick 1998

Succeeded by Niklas Kronwall