Brett MacLean, 23, of the NHL Phoenix Coyotes suffered reportedly suffered a “cardiac emergency” during a pick-up hockey game in Ontario last night.
EMTs evidently administered CPR at the rink, and MacLean was taken to a local hospital and then later transported by air ambulance to Knight University Hospital in London, Ontario, where he was admitted to the intensive care unit.
As reported by USA Today and other media outlets, Coyotes General Manager Don Maloney issued a statement that said, in part…
Brett was playing hockey last night in Owen Sound, Ontario, when he suffered a medical emergency…Our thoughts and prayers are with Brett and his family. We request that everyone please respect their privacy at this time. We will provide an update on Brett’s status when information is available.
MacLean (not to be confused with NHL veteran Brett McLean) is a forward who was drafted by the Coyotes in the second round of the 2007 NHL draft as the 32nd pick overall. So far he has spent most of his career in the minors.
To date, he has appeared in 18 NHL games (with Phoenix and the Winnipeg Jets who picked him up after he was waived by the Coyotes) and has two goals and three assists. MacLean made his NHL debut on December 29, 2010, scoring a goal on his first shot against Jonathan Quick of the now Stanley Cup Champion Los Angeles Kings.
MacLean appeared most of last season with the Portland Pirates, the Coyotes American Hockey League affiliate after Winnipeg placed him on waivers and he was reclaimed by the Coyotes.
