Fischer happy, but dreams of return

by jhaywood

Wednesday November 21, 2007, 12:17 AM

AP File PhotoJiri Fischer celebrates a goal in 2005. The former Red Wings defenseman nearly died two years ago today after going into cardiac arrest while on the bench during a game.

By Ansar Khan

DETROIT -- Jiri Fischer is adjusting well to life after hockey.

He has a new job, as the Detroit Red Wings' director of player development. He was married last August in the Czech Republic to his longtime fiancee, Avory. And he no longer wears a heart monitoring device that was strapped to his chest nearly 24 hours a day for 1.5 years.

Fischer was on the verge of becoming a top defenseman when he nearly died two years ago tonight, after going into cardiac arrest on the bench during a game against Nashville at Joe Louis Arena. He realizes that his chances of being cleared to play again are slim, but he continues to see specialists and undergo tests in an effort to determine what caused his heart to accelerate abnormally.

In the meantime, he has helped launch a public awareness campaign promoting CPR training and access to Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in hockey arenas and public places. And he is enjoying a new role that enables him to travel across the U.S. and Canada, checking in on the club's prospects in the major junior, college and minor league ranks.

"It was a fast two years, but there was so many things that happened," Fischer, 27, said. "From cardiac arrest to a few months of having absolutely no hope of getting healthy again to being introduced to something I enjoy doing, those are tremendous steps. Part of being happy is doing something that is fulfilling, so this is great."

After Fischer's contract expired last season, Red Wings general manager Ken Holland wanted to find a place for him in the organization. Fischer enjoys interacting with young players on a personal level, providing feedback, helping motivate them and trying to teach them what habits they need to develop to make it to the NHL.

"We really have a lot of quality guys, they're mature, level-headed, hungry, willing to learn," Fischer said. "That's motivating in its own way, just to try to help guys. I look in on every guy we have on every team. I try to be more personal than our scouts would be, try to help them in a little different way."

Fischer had two potentially lethal episodes of arrhythmia that caused him to be rushed to the hospital in the weeks following his seizure and wasn't allowed to drive for six months. Now he is traveling quite a bit, by car and plane, and by himself. And he is not worried about experiencing another episode on the road.

"I knew I had to start traveling again, so I talked to my wife and she feels comfortable," said Fischer, who has a 14-month-old son, Lukas. He has another son, 5-year-old Braidan, from a previous relationship.

Fischer felt comfortable enough two months ago to remove his LifeVest, an intermediate-term treatment option for people at high risk for sudden cardiac arrest.

"It constantly monitors the performance of the heart, like a constant EKG. It has a computer that analyzes the rhythm, and if there's any disturbances it basically sends a shocks if it needs to," Fischer said. "I just don't believe with the lifestyle I have now that it's going to happen again."

Fischer still has no recollection of the incident from two years ago. Team doctors saved his life by performing CPR on the bench. All he remembers is waking up in a hospital bed with Avory by his side.

"I thought I was carrying the puck and got leveled and then woke up in a hospital," Fischer said. "Of course, when I had all the IVs sticking out of me I figured it was probably more than that. And then the whole team started to show up, including the Ilitches (team owners). Then I learned the game wasn't even resumed. I didn't know how I was resuscitated until I saw it on TV."

Fischer will have dinner tonight with Tony Colucci, the team doctor he credits for saving his life, to commemorate the two-year anniversary. He chooses not to look at it as the worst day of his life.

"It may be the most positive day I ever lived because I came so close (to death) and yet I can still be here today and have a functioning brain and no limb problems or any other major health issues," Fischer said.

Fischer exercises regularly, though not nearly at the level he did while playing. He has not been cleared to skate, but that didn't prevent him from impulsively lacing up his skates for a light but invigorating stroll on a frozen pond near his home a couple of times last winter.

"That was fantastic, something I tried only a couple of times in my life, not since before I was 10," Fischer said. "Winters in the Czech Republic aren't as cold, so there's very few times the river would freeze and you could skate on them. I had to wear three pairs of gloves and shovel the pond first. The next day I had to shovel it again. It was great, getting the exercise and breathing different air than inside the arena."

There was a point last season where Fischer, in a euphoric state, thought he might get cleared to play.

"I was progressively getting better and I really thought I could play last year, especially towards the end of the season," he said. "Being under contract, I was really motivated to play, and I was doing everything I could."

Though he has accepted not being able to play, he said it will be a long time before he gives up hope that one day he will pass a physical and be given the green light to return.

"I know right now nobody is going to risk their career to clear me so I can play in the NHL," Fischer said. "I know if that moment comes when I'm cleared to play, at my own risk or not, even being cleared would be such a tremendous achievement, going from no hope to some hope to actually being approved."

RED WINGS NOTES
Goalie plans: Chris Osgood will start in goal tonight when the Red Wings host St. Louis. Dominik Hasek will start Thursday in Nashville. "(Osgood) is playing good, simple. To me, he's earned the right," coach Mike Babcock said. "Dom has another practice with Jimmy (goaltending coach Bedard) to get his game where he wants."