Stars’ Rich Peverley out of hospital but done for season [Video]

Dallas Stars forward Rich Peverley, who collapsed on his team’s bench Monday after experiencing a cardiac event, appeared at a news conference Wednesday to thank the medical personnel who took care of him and others who have offered him support since the incident.

However, one of his doctors, Robert Dimeff, said Peverley won’t play again this season.

The 31-year-old forward is scheduled to travel to Cleveland and undergo surgery in an attempt to regulate his heartbeat in the aftermath of an incident that caused him to lose consciousness as he returned to the bench during the first period of the Stars’ game against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The game was postponed but the incident shook his teammates so badly that Alex Chiasson had an anxiety attack and missed the Stars’ next game.

“On behalf of my wife, all of my family and myself I’d like to thank the number of people who saved my life,” Peverley said at the news conference, which he left without taking questions. “They all attended to me once I passed out and they saved my life and I will forever be grateful.”

The heart procedure he’s scheduled to undergo had initially been planned to take place after this season. Doctors would not say if Peverley will be able to resume his career after the procedure.

Peverley sat at a dais alongside doctors, Stars General Manager Jim Nill and Coach Lindy Ruff and read a statement before leaving the room.

Doctors praised the quick response time of medical personnel, including an unnamed doctor who left her seat in the stands and responded to Ruff’s pleas for aid.

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