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Saskatoon’s Jeff Schenn was sitting next to Jay Bouwmeester’s father when the younger Bouwmeester — a 36-year-old defenceman with the St. Louis Blues — collapsed on the bench Tuesday in Anaheim.
Schenn was at the NHL game watching his son Brayden as part of the Blues’ annual dads trip.
“We thought maybe there was a fight or someone jumped in the bench; we couldn’t really see what happened,” Jeff Schenn said Wednesday.
“I did see Brayden, and I was looking for some other kids. Probably 20 seconds later, Jay’s dad said, ‘I think it’s Jay,’ and he took off and went down.”
Jay Bouwmeester was conscious and stable when taken to hospital after suffering a cardiac episode. St. Louis radio announcer Chris Kerber reportedly said during an interview that a defibrillator was used.
“It was amazing. They have team doctors who sit right behind the Anaheim bench. (Ducks star) Ryan Getzlaf had a doctor over there in seconds,” said Schenn, who praised staff for their quick response.
“As bad as it was, it really couldn’t happen in a better place. (Bouwmeester) had so much care in front of him.”
Schenn said Bouwmeester is in good spirits and was even cracking jokes with his teammates afterwards.
“Jay FaceTimed the boys after, just saying he was OK,” Schenn said.
“It’s scary for anybody that gets involved. (It’s) a good teammate right in front of you. Some boys were having a tough time with it.”
The NHL’s emergency medical standards require at least two doctors to be in attendance for every game and one must be within 50 feet of the benches. A defibrillator must be available, along with an ambulance.
The NHL postponed the game with 7:50 left in the first period. St. Louis is scheduled to take on the Golden Knights on Thursday in Las Vegas.
