"Rich Peverley underwent successful surgery to correct an abnormal heart rhythm at the Cleveland Clinic on Tuesday, March 18. He is currently in normal sinus rhythm. He was released from the Cleveland Clinic today and is expected to return to Dallas tomorrow. He will be monitored closely and may require further treatment. There is no decision being made at this time on his ability to return to hockey participation.” - Dallas Stars GM Jim Nill
Peverly was given CPR and hit with defibrillator paddles in the hallway of American Airlines Center in Dallas after he collapsed on the Stars' bench after finishing a shift six minutes into a match with the Columbus Blue Jackets on March 10th. The game was postponed as the players and coaching staff were too shaken to continue.
It was revealed by emergency personnel that the paddles were not used to restore a regular heart rhythm after he collapsed, but to revive him after a quick triage on the bench revealed the veteran winger had no pulse at all.
Peverley has become somewhat of a poster child for the toughness of hockey players in the weeks since the "Cardiac Event", as the treating physician recanted to reporters that when Peverley regained consciousness he asked coach Lindy Ruff if the game was still in the first period and that he wanted to return to finish the game.
"First thing Rich asked me when I spoke to him – ‘How much time left in the period’ – you know, typical athlete,” said Ruff.
Peverley declined surgery in the offseason after a routine physical revealed an irregular heartbeat and opted for drug therapy instead - but the issue manifested during a game at Buffalo on March 3rd and missed the Stars' match the following night in Columbus.
He played in two games after that episode before the issue arose the night of the 10th. Peverley spend two days in the hospital in Dallas before being released and attended a Stars' practice and a game before he traveled to Cleveland for his ablation procedure.
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