NHL Hall of Fame Chris Pronger joined the many on social media in expressing concern for the safety of Buffalo Bills Damar Hamlin following the terrifying scene on Monday night, a night that Pronger said was eerily reminiscent of the one he experienced. once two-time Olympic gold medalist.
Pronger, 48, posted a message on Twitter Tuesday sending his «thoughts and prayers» to Hamlin and his family as the second-year player remains in critical condition at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center after collapsed in the field Monday night of cardiac arrest.
Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin walks onto the field before a New York Jets game at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York on January 9, 2022.
(Rich Barnes-USA Today Sports)
«Our thoughts and prayers are with Damar, his family, teammates, and the greater NFL community during this incredibly scary time,» Pronger wrote in part.
DAMAR HAMLIN’S FAMILY REPORTED TO PROVIDE UPDATES ON THE BILLING PLAYER’S HEALTH
The retired NHL defenseman also said he hopes Hamlin recovers like he did when he collapsed on the ice during the 1998 Stanley Cup Playoffs after taking a slap to the chest.
«Prayers that Damar Hamlin can have the same outcome that I was lucky to have with my incident,» he said in a tweet.
Pronger, who was in his third season with the St Louis Blues at the time, he blocked a shot by Detroit Red Wings defenseman Dmitri Mironov as the puck struck him square in the left side of the chest.
Chris Pronger of the St. Louis Blues skates against the Canadiens circa 1990 at the Montreal Forum in Quebec.
(Denis Brodeur/NHLI via Getty Images)
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After taking a few steps, he collapsed on the ice.
According to The Buffalo News, medical personnel on the ice were unable to locate a pulse and eventually went to cut off his shirt to perform CPR when he finally regained consciousness. After being taken to the hospital, he was diagnosed with commotio cordis.
«The lights go out and all of a sudden you wake up and I was looking at the rafters of Joe Louis Arena, looking at retired numbers and banners and stuff,» Pronger told the outlet on Tuesday. «I kind of turned and looked up and we had guys crying on the bench, not really knowing what was going on. My team got cut, everything was snipped.»
Chris Pronger of the St. Louis Blues during the Maple Leafs game on November 17, 1999 at the Air Canada Center in Toronto, Ontario.
(Graig Abel/Getty Images)
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Pronger returned two nights later.
Doctors said Wednesday that they received «promising readings that they hoped to see,» ESPN reported, citing Jordon Rooney and the Hamlin family. Rooney reportedly added that there seemed to be «progress». Hamlin was still in the ICU sedated and considered in critical condition.