Defenceman’s on-ice collapse shakes Flames

CALGARY Calgary Flames defenceman T.J. Brodie was resting at home Thursday evening after he left the ice on a stretcher and was taken to hospital after a terrifying scene during an early-afternoon practice at Scotiabank Saddledome.

During a routine drill, the 29-year-old was standing by himself near the blue-line when he collapsed and started convulsing.

Team medical staff rushed to his side and an ambulance was called.

Flames general manager Brad Treliving will provide a further update Friday.

There was a moment of confusion when Brodie — a husband and proud father of a young daughter — fell to the ice, as coaches and players weren’t sure what was happening. The convulsions looked to have paused and he had been lying motionless before the movements, which looked like uncontrollable muscle contractions, started again.

Head coach Bill Peters, who was standing near Brodie and directing the skate, immediately stopped the drill and alerted the medical staff.

Flames hockey personnel at the scene, security members and reporters looked on, stunned. All were visibly shaken.

“Our good wishes go out to T.J. and (his wife) Amber. He’s a great kid,” said Sportsnet’s Brian Burke, formerly the president of hockey operations in Calgary, during a Thursday afternoon appearance on Tim & Sid. “I’m hearing good things. I’m hearing he’s alert and he’s resting comfortably.”

The Flames halted practice and Treliving, Peters and some of Brodie’s teammates headed straight to the hospital to see the soft-spoken defenceman from Chatham, Ont.

Brodie is in his ninth season with the Flames. He has totalled 591 games at the NHL level. In 21 appearances this fall, No. 7 has zero goals and eight assists and ranks sixth on the team in ice time, averaging 19:13 per outing.