NHL MVP Chris Pronger Suffered Commotio Cordis in ’98, ‘Feel For’ Hamlin Family

Chris Pronger is among the best hockey protectors ever, however maybe he’s more understood for his own frightening in-video game medical emergency situation … the previous NHL MVP suffered commotio cordis after taking a slapshot to the heart throughout a championship game in 1998.

TMZ Sports spoke with the retired 48-year-old NHL fantastic about the parallels in between him and Damar Hamlin … as lots of doctors have actually thought the 24-year-old Bills security likewise experienced the incredibly uncommon heart concern.

“I got hit with a slapshot literally right in the heart and in between beats and that’s called commotio cordis where you get hit in between beats. Your heart thinks it beat so it skips one beat. Sometimes the heart restarts, sometimes it doesn’t,” Pronger stated of the May 10, 1998 event in Detroit.

Although he passed out and collapsed to the ice in frightening style, thankfully for Chris, his heart began beating once again by itself. He eventually didn’t need CPR or defibrillation. Video of the event including Chris is here … however reasonable caution, it’s challenging to view.

“I kinda get up a little bit, stumble, couple strides and then collapse to the ice. The next thing you know, I’m waking up and I got my shirt cut open, all my stuff’s off. I’m looking up at the rafters and looking up at the banners in Joe Louis Arena and looking over to my right, I can see our bench — guys are crying.”

“You don’t really know what’s going on. You’re just kinda deer in the headlights talking to the doctor.”

FYI, Hamlin’s doctors, in a rundown from the medical facility previously today, have stated it’s prematurely to figure out if commotio cordis or another heart concern triggered the medical emergency situation.

Whatever the cause, we understand Hamlin’s heart did not reboot by itself. Fortunately, the Bills medical group right away sprang into action, conserving Damar’s life.

“The placement of the trainers and doctors, medical staff, they have to pay attention to the game because you never know when something is gonna happen,” Pronger states, including … “Kudos to them for being quick to jump out there. When you see somebody fall like that you clearly know something is not right.”

When Pronger collapsed in the Motor City, his moms and dads were in the arena to view the video game … just like Damar’s mother was in Cincinnati. Chris feels sorry for what the Hamlin’s are going through.

“This one seems like it’s a lot more critical than mine was. Very similar in the beginning but as you watch, this one plays out, you know, applying CPR for a number of minutes on the field,” Chris stated.

“You feel for them. It’s become a spectacle for them and it’s a life-or-death situation. The last thing they’re thinking about right now is football. They’re thinking about the human side of things in Damar’s life and getting back to some sense of normalcy as it relates to just life in general.”