Jiří Fischer

Jiří Fischer
Jiří Fischer
Born	31 July 1980 (age 44); Hořovice, Czechoslovakia
Height	6 ft 5 in (196 cm)
Weight	225 lb (102 kg; 16 st 1 lb)
Position	Defence
Shot	Left
Played for	Detroit Red Wings; HC Bílí Tygři Liberec
National team	Czech Republic
NHL draft	25th overall, 1998; Detroit Red Wings
Playing career	1999–2005

Jiří Fischer (born 31 July 1980) is a Czech former professional ice hockey defenceman in the National Hockey League (NHL) who played his entire career with the Detroit Red Wings. He currently serves as Detroit's Director of Player Evaluation. 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.

Fischer's playing career ended after he went into cardiac arrest in a November 2005 game, and narrowly escaped death due to the immediate action of doctors and other arena personnel. He subsequently retired due to his heart problems.

He also served as the assistant coach for the Czech Republic during the 2012 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships.

In-game cardiac arrest

During a game on 21 November 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 by Dr. Tony Colucci,^[1] and was taken to Detroit Receiving Hospital.^[1] The game was postponed due to Fischer's injury, and was made up on 23 January 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 23 November 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 disorganized cardiac rhythm.^[2] Doctors ordered Fischer to avoid all physical activity for four to six weeks, and no prognosis was made on whether he would be able to continue his ice hockey career. Fischer continued to suffer heart trouble after the in-game incident. On 28 November, 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. By the time his contract expired at the end of the 2006-07 season, it was obvious he would never be medically cleared to play again, and he was forced to retire. General manager Ken Holland wanted to keep Fischer in the organization, and offered him a job as director of player development. Fischer had long liked working with young players and accepted.^[3]

Return to the ice

Fischer returned to the ice for the Detroit Red Wings in the first of two Alumni Showdown games at Comerica Park as part of the 2013 Hockeytown Winter Festival on 31 December 2013, scoring the first goal of the game.^{[citation needed]}

Personal life

Fischer's son, Lukas, is also an ice hockey player.^[4]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

			Regular season					Playoffs
Season	Team	League	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1995–96	HC Poldi Kladno	CZE U20	39	6	10	16	—	—	—	—	—	—
1996–97	HC Poldi Kladno	CZE U20	38	7	21	28	—	—	—	—	—	—
1997–98	Hull Olympiques	QMJHL	70	3	19	22	112	11	1	4	5	16
1998–99	Hull Olympiques	QMJHL	65	22	56	78	141	23	6	17	23	44
1999–00	Detroit Red Wings	NHL	52	0	8	8	45	—	—	—	—	—
1999–00	Cincinnati Mighty Ducks	AHL	7	0	2	2	10	—	—	—	—	—
2000–01	Detroit Red Wings	NHL	55	1	8	9	59	5	0	0	0	9
2000–01	Cincinnati Mighty Ducks	AHL	18	2	6	8	22	—	—	—	—	—
2001–02	Detroit Red Wings	NHL	80	2	8	10	67	22	3	3	6	30
2002–03	Detroit Red Wings	NHL	15	1	5	6	16	—	—	—	—	—
2003–04	Detroit Red Wings	NHL	81	4	15	19	75	11	1	0	1	16
2004–05	Bílí Tygři Liberec	ELH	27	6	12	18	52	11	1	4	5	22
2004–05	HC Berounští Medvědi	CZE.2	1	0	1	1	25	—	—	—	—	—
2005–06	Detroit Red Wings	NHL	22	3	5	8	33	—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals			305	11	49	60	295	38	4	3	7	55

International

Year	Team	Event	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1997	Czech Republic	EJC	6	1	0	1	8
2004	Czech Republic	WCH	4	0	0	0	2
2005	Czech Republic	WC	9	0	1	1	4
Senior totals			13	0	1	1	6

References

^ ^a ^b Chengelis, Angelique S. (December 6, 2005). "The six who saved Jiri Fischer". The Detroit News. Retrieved April 15, 2010.
^ "Red Wings' Jiri Fischer released from hospital". Archived from the original on 14 July 2012. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-09-08. Retrieved 2012-10-25.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^ "Thursday's hockey: Son of ex-Wing Jiri Fischer showcases talent at Top Prospects Game".

External links

Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Eurohockey.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database
The Healthy Hope Jiri Fischer Foundation

Preceded by Jesse Wallin	Detroit Red Wings first round draft pick 1998	Succeeded by Niklas Kronwall

[Sixsaved-1] Chengelis, Angelique S. (December 6, 2005). "The six who saved Jiri Fischer". The Detroit News. Retrieved April 15, 2010.

[2] "Red Wings' Jiri Fischer released from hospital". Archived from the original on 14 July 2012. Retrieved 16 March 2023.

[3] "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-09-08. Retrieved 2012-10-25.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

[4] "Thursday's hockey: Son of ex-Wing Jiri Fischer showcases talent at Top Prospects Game".

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