Chris Pronger collapses after getting a slap shot near his heart

Dmitri Mironov was playing for the defending Stanley Cup-champion Detroit Red Wings on May 11, 1998. Chris Pronger anchored the St. Louis Blues’ blue line. Pronger jostled with Detroit forward Martin Lapointe in front of the Blues’ goal, then glided out to block Mironov’s shot. The puck slammed off Pronger’s chest, just left of his heart. He fell down, covered up the puck and got up. Pronger took two strides and collapsed. He was unconscious for about 20 seconds. Pronger spent the night in Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, but was back in action four days later. “My eyes roll back in my head and then I went down. At the time, you’re young and you don’t take it that serious. But as time goes on, you read about these types of incidents and that kids die from it. I was lucky.“ The blow from the puck caused Pronger’s heart to skip a beat. He suffered no ill effects from Mironov’s shot and went on to a Hall of Fame career.