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OHL Saginaw Spirit

Red Wings Jiri Fischer to Skate in First Game Since 2005 On-Ice Incident

February 27, 2008 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Saginaw Spirit News Release


(Saginaw, MI) Former Detroit Red Wings defensemen and CHL alumnus Jiri Fischer will be skating in 'Shocks and Saves' charity game on March 1st. The occasion marks the first time that Fischer will participate in a hockey game since November 21st, 2005 when he collapsed on the Red Wings bench due to heart complications. The 'Shocks and Saves' charity game was organized by the Michigan CardioVascular Institute (MCVI) Foundation and presented by Biotronik 'Excellence for Life', Covenant HealthCare, MidMichigan Medical Center - Midland, The Michigan CardioVascular Institute (MCVI) and Mobile Medical Response (MMR).

The game will be played on March 1st at 5:00 PM with a special $10 ticket available for the 'Shocks and Saves' charity game that also includes admission to the following Saginaw Spirit home game against the Windsor Spitfires.

The 'Shocks and Saves' charity game will raise funds for a program sponsored by Fischer's Healthy Hope Foundation to put Automated External Defibrillators (AED's) in mid-Michigan schools and ice rinks. In light of the recent passing of Windsor Spitfires captain Mickey Renaud, a portion of the funds raised will also be donated to the Windsor Spitfires Foundation in honor of Renaud. The game will feature several celebrities in addition to Fischer, including Saginaw Spirit General Manager and former NHL Vezina winning goaltender Don Edwards and Windsor Spitfires General Manager and former NHL winger Warren Rychel!

"The Saginaw Spirit are proud to be working in unison with Detroit Red Wings # 2 Jiri Fischer, Red Wings Team Doctor Dr. Tony Colucci, the Healthy Hope Foundation, Biotronik 'Excellence for Life', Covenant HealthCare, MidMichigan Medical Center - Midland, the MCVI Foundation and MMR," stated Spirit Managing Partner and President Craig Goslin.

"Having Jiri commit to us that he will play in this game is a great opportunity for Spirit fans to come see Jiri on the ice for the first time since his heart failure incident on the Red Wings bench. Jiri Fischer is a Stanley Cup Champion on- ice, but more importantly, is a 'World Champion' person off-ice. We are also honored that retired NHL's Don Edwards and Warren Rychel will be participating in this worthy event. Fans that come to see this charity game will be highly entertained, that's for sure," said Goslin.

Dr. Fattal, an invasive cardiologist with MCVI, met Jiri Fischer at a recent signing during a Saginaw Spirit game. "The MCVI Foundation is committed to education and public service in the area of advancing cardiovascular care. We undertake education programs and fundraising efforts on an on-going basis and had selected a charity hockey game as an appropriate venue to achieve those goals. It was fortuitous that at the time we were contemplating this event, we met Jiri Fischer and learned how closely our foundation goals were aligned. It is rare to find an individual who can turn adversity into a positive experience quite like Jiri Fischer," said Fattal.

The idea was born to pit area doctors and medical professionals in a charity game to raise funds and awareness for the cause championed by Jiri Fischer. The MCVI Foundation would partner with MMR to organize the first ever 'Shocks and Saves' charity game. In light of the cause, Fischer committed to lacing up his skates for this worthy event.

"We are excited to be partnering with the Healthy Hope Foundation, Mobile Medical Response and the Saginaw Spirit. We are especially appreciative of the support we have received from the community," continued Fattal.

The following Spirit game will also feature a Health Fair in the Bud Light Blue Line Club from 4:30 PM to 8:00 PM. Fans can get blood pressure checks, cholesterol screenings and more! There will be a silent auction going on during the game featuring jerseys signed by Jiri Fischer, a Detroit Red Wings team autographed jersey and more!

The 'Shocks and Saves' charity game was organized by the Michigan CardioVascular Institute (MCVI) Foundation and presented by Biotronik 'Excellence for Life', Covenant HealthCare, MidMichigan Medical Center - Midland, The Michigan CardioVascular Institute (MCVI) and Mobile Medical Response (MMR).

To purchase tickets, please call MMR at 989-907-2013 or the MCVI Foundation at 989-754-3319. Tickets can also be purchased at the Saginaw Spirit Merchandise Store, 5789 State Street in Saginaw, or by calling the Spirit at 989-497-7747.

MEDIA: To arrange interviews or to receive video footage of event, please contact Bill Konesko, Saginaw Spirit Media and Community Relations, at 989.598.4797

Jiri Fischer

The Czech native began his major junior hockey career with the QMJHL Hull Olympiques, who along with the OHL Saginaw Spirit, is a member of the Canadian Hockey League. While with the Olympiques, Fischer earned the Emile "Butch" Bouchard Trophy, making him the best defensemen in the league. The Detroit Red Wings would go on to select him with the 25th overall pick in the 1998 NHL draft.

On November 21, 2005 the hockey world was stunned when Fischer collapsed at the end of the Red Wings bench, due to heart complications, during a game against the Nashville Predators. With the help of team doctor Tony Colucci and his teammates, Fischer was resuscitated in Joe Louis Arena using a defibrillator. Because of the incident, defibrillators are now mandatory medical equipment in most professional sports - all CHL teams are required to have the device on hand in case of emergencies.

This season the Red Wings named Fischer Director of Player Development, but he still continues to research the causes of his heart failure. He recently created the Jiri Fischer 'Healthy Hope Foundation' in an effort to raise money and awareness for heart conditions.

Don Edwards

NHL Vezina winning goaltender and current Spirit General Manager Don Edwards will be participating in the event. Edwards had a highly successful NHL career that included stops in Buffalo, Calgary, and Toronto; he is also a recipient of the NHL's Vezina Trophy. Edwards also has extensive NHL coaching experience, notching significant time with both Los Angeles Kings and the Carolina Hurricanes.

Edwards has an extensive career in hockey as a goalie, starting with the Kitchener Rangers of the OHA (now known as the OHL). The Buffalo Sabres picked Edwards 89th overall in the 1975 Amateur Draft; he spent two seasons in the AHL with the Hershey Bears before moving up to Buffalo, where he played six seasons. Edwards also spent three seasons with the Calgary Flames and one with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Edwards won the Vezina Trophy with teammate Bob Sauve during the 1979-1980 season while with Buffalo. The distinguished award is given by the NHL to the team with the lowest goals against average.

Edwards worked with the Los Angeles Kings as an assistant coach during the 1998-99 season and with the Carolina Hurricanes as a goaltending coach in the 2003-2004 season. He also spent several years consulting with both teams.

Warren Rychel

Warren Rychel is the Vice-President and General Manager of the Windsor Spitfires Hockey Club. The NHL Stanley Cup winner spent time with the Chicago Blackhawks, the Los Angeles Kings, the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Colorado Avalanche and the Anaheim Ducks.

Warren was drafted by the Sudbury Wolves in the 13th round, 181st overall in the 1984 OHL draft. He played for the Sudbury Wolves, Guelph Platers, Ottawa 67's and Kitchener Rangers through his Ontario Hockey League career. Warren Captained the Ottawa 67's in 1986.

Warren led the National Hockey League in majors in 1992-93 with 31 and he was third in the National Hockey League with 314 penalty minutes in that season. More prominently Warren led all NHL rookie playoff scorers in 1992-93 as a member of the L.A. Kings. Warren achieved the pinnacle of success in the National Hockey League as a member of the 1996 Stanley Cup Champions, Colorado Avalanche. Warren played in greater than 400 NHL games, accumulating 1422 penalty minutes and performing in 70 playoff games, while achieving 21 points and 121 penalty minutes in the playoffs. After retiring from hockey, Warren scouted professionally for Wayne Gretzky and the Phoenix Coyotes from 2001-2006.

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