Jiří Fischer

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jiří Fischer (July 31, 1980 in Hořovice, Czechoslovakia, now Czech Republic) is a professional ice hockey defenseman, currently playing in the National Hockey League for the Detroit Red Wings. He 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.

During a game on November 21, 2005, against the Nashville Predators, Fischer suffered a seizure and collapsed on the bench. His heart had stopped, and he was resuscitated by CPR and defibrillator. He was taken to Detroit Receiving Hospital.

The game was cancelled due to his injury, and was made up on January 23, 2006. This was the first time in NHL history a game had been postponed due to injury. The game was played for the full 60 minutes, however, the Predators were allowed to maintain their 1-0 lead from the original game. They won, 3-2.

On Wednesday, November 23, he was released from hospital. Fischer's heart may have been experiencing either ventricular tachycardia, a type of racing heartbeat, or ventricular fibrillation. Both can cause death if treatment is not immediately received. Doctors ordered Fischer to avoid all physical activity for four to six weeks, and no prognosis has been made on whether or not the 25-year-old will be able to continue his hockey career.

On November 28, he suffered a "brief, abnormal cardiac rhythm", while at his home in Detroit. He was released two days later and has undergone more testing with several cardiologists, including doctors at the University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

It was rumored in the Summer of 2006 that Fischer went to Dallas for clearance to play, but never comfirmed.

An approximate English pronunciation of his first name is YEER-zhee, with a rolled "r," as in Spanish.

Fischer is known as a highly rough hitter. In 2003, then-Wings coach Dave Lewis paired Fisch with ex-Dallas Star Derian Hatcher. Hatcher tore his knee cartilage while preparing for their third game of the season, against the Vancouver Canucks at home causing Fischer to make up for the loss of Hatcher's rough style of play.

"Every team needs players who will play hard, show strength in front of the net and Derian was our leader. It's not going to be up to one player," Fischer argued later that night.^{[citation needed]} Later in the game, it was Fischer who sent Canucks' left-winger Daniel Sedin crashing through the Joe Louis Arena glass.