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Weve got too many bridges to cross,
Topic Started: Oct 29 2012, 09:16 AM (48 Views)
lingzi

TORONTO -- Brett MacLean was in the prime of his life. Coby Fleener Jersey . Just 23 years old and coming off a 25-goal season in the American Hockey League, MacLean was working towards a full-time spot with the Phoenix Coyotes this summer when he joined some friends in Owen Sound, Ont., for a pick-up game. Little did he know, it would be the last time he pulled on skates as a professional. "I remember going to the arena and going on the ice and thats it," MacLean said during a recent interview. "I guess 40 minutes in I made a pass and just collapsed." He was experiencing sudden cardiac arrest. In top physical shape, and with no history of heart disease, MacLeans life hung in the balance. The survival rate in Canada for out-of-hospital cardiac arrests is just five per cent. Fortunately for MacLean, there were people around who started acting quickly. Two fellow players performed CPR until a local firefighter could retrieve the arenas automatic external defibrillator -- better known as an AED -- and shock him back to life. Paramedics soon arrived and he was eventually airlifted to a hospital in London. "I was lucky," said MacLean. "It just kind of shows that it can happen to anyone." The miracle that saved his life was accompanied by news that hed have to end his hockey career. With the cause of MacLeans cardiac arrest unknown, doctors inserted an implantable cardiac defibrillator, which will monitor his heart for abnormalities and prevent him from participating in contact sports. However, MacLean had vowed to turn his experience into something positive before he was even discharged from hospital. He quickly made contact with the Heart and Stroke Foundation through his Twitter account and took part in the launch of the charitys new awareness campaign last week in downtown Toronto. Just three months on from a life-altering event, hes willing to speak openly about what he went through and help spread the word on behalf of the foundation. "The more people that know CPR, the more lives were going to save," said MacLean. Life has slowly started returning to normal for him. MacLean plans to eventually enroll in some courses with an eye on landing a job in the sports industry, and feels well enough physically to be able to run. He even returned to the ice for a light skate recently and is thrilled to be exercising again. "Obviously, I was a little cautious the first time," MacLean said. "But more than being nervous I think I was just excited to do things I did before and move back to being myself." One of the lasting memories hell take from the experience is the outpouring of support he received from the hockey community. MacLean called it "overwhelming." A former second-round pick of the Coyotes, he realized his childhood dream of playing in the NHL during a 13-game stint with Phoenix in 2010-11 and five games with the reborn Winnipeg Jets at the start of last season. He was eventually reclaimed on waivers by Phoenix and spent the rest of the year with AHL Portland. However, the organization still viewed the six-foot-two winger as a potential full-time NHL player. "We still held out some hope that he could help us down the road," said Coyotes GM Don Maloney. "Unfortunately, thats not going to happen. But the good thing is hes healthy and he can get on with his life." MacLean is doing just that. Equally as amazing as the actions that led to his life being saved is his willingness to move forward and not feel sorry for himself. "When I was in the hospital, I had a tough time with why this happened to me," said MacLean. "Ive worked hard my whole life and Ive eaten well and done the right things. ... But now I look at it like at least Im still here and at least Im healthy. "Im looking at the bright side. If I can help other people in the future then its all worth it." Reggie Wayne Jersey . - Giro dItalia winner Ryder Hesjedal and Olympic veteran Clara Hughes will lead the Canadian road cycling team at the London Olympics. Pat Angerer Jersey . Stanton hit his 12th home run in May to tie the franchise record for a single month and the Marlins completed a three-game sweep of the first-place Washington Nationals with a 5-3 win Wednesday night. http://www.coltsteamstore.com/andrew-luck-jersey . -- Longtime NFL assistant coach Bill Muir followed through on his plans to retire, informing the Kansas City Chiefs on Wednesday that he wouldnt return for a 35th season in the league. Dwight Freeney Jersey . Chiellini was substituted during Sundays match against Atlanta that his side won 3-1. He will miss the Italian Cup final against Napoli on Sunday due to thigh injury, but will recover within 20 days to play Italys first match at the Euros against Spain on June 10, Juventus said in a statement Wednesday. Andrew Luck Jersey . Haas handled the pressure of an equally large cushion just fine five years ago, so the odds for an unprecedented third Champions Tour title in Iowa are certainly in his favour.TORONTO -- When it rains, it pours. The Rogers Centre roof was having difficulty closing on Tuesday but the Toronto Blue Jays had even more trouble with the surging Baltimore Orioles who pounded out a 12-0 victory. Blue Jays starter Carlos Villanueva was getting his cleats muddied in the middle innings as the retractable roof could not close as quickly as usual and Baltimore racked up seven runs during the fifth, sixth and seventh innings. "I can say a million things about what happened out there with the roof and everything," said Villanueva who gave up seven hits and six runs in 6 2-3 innings. "Yet the fact of the matter is it happened. "I dont know if it got stuck or whatever happened. We were definitely not prepared for that. It was a tough inning. My cleats were muddy." The Orioles (76-59) moved into a first-place tie with the New York Yankees in the American League East. The Yankees lost 5-2 at Tampa Bay on Tuesday. The struggling Blue Jays (60-75) are fifth. The rain was worst in the sixth when Villanueva (7-5) allowed only one run. He had given up a three-run homer in the fifth to Mark Reynolds who had four RBIs in the game as the Orioles outhit the Blue Jays 18-4. Villanuevas downfall came in the seventh when the Orioles scored three runs against him and left-handed reliever Aaron Loup. By then the rain wasnt a factor and neither were the Blue Jays. Orioles left-hander Zach Britton (5-1) held the Blue Jays to four hits and two walks, one intentional, while striking out eight in seven innings. Also, at one stage a fire alarm went off but an announcement was made that there was no problem. "There was actually a point when it wasnt raining on the mound but it was raining behind the plate," Britton said. "I was laughing at them because they had to wear it and I didnt. "Its a little bit of an adjustment because you dont expect it but once it closed it up it was fine." The grounds crew did take a couple of minutes to work over the mound but it was not considered an official delay. "They did a great job (of working on the mound)," Britton said. Blue Jays manager John Farrell quickly dismissed the rain as being a factor. "I cant say some light drizzle...we face those conditions in many places," Farrell said. Villanueva agreed with Farrell. "It happened, they dealt with it, too, and came out fine," Villanueva said. "It was definitely surprising, looking up just waiting for that last bit to close and then the alarm went off. "It was a very adventurous couple of innings. Its unfortunate but it happened." Villanueva was asked if he had considered asking for time and getting one of the trainers to bring him a tongue depressor to clean out his cleats, a time-honoured method of ddealing with such conditions. Andrew Luck Elite Jersey. "They used to but I guess everybody was just shocked that it was happening," Villanueva said. "In the end I ended up getting out of that inning," The game started with the roof close and it was opened in the second inning. "I dont even know why they opened it in the first place," Reynolds said. "It was raining outside all day. I never had a rainout in a dome and I played in Arizona for five years. The worst part was it was right over our dugout and our batting gloves and helmets were getting wet." The score was 0-0 through four innings and Adam Jones opened the fifth with a double into the right-field corner. Matt Wieters flied out to right and Jones tagged at second. Shortstop Yunel Escobar jumped to cut off the throw from Moises Sierra but neglected to make the tag as Jones got back. Chris Davis walked. Reynolds hit his 17th homer of the season to left field to put the Orioles into a 3-0 lead. Nick Markakis led off with a single in the sixth, took third on a double by J.J. Hardy and scored on a sacrifice fly to centre by Nate McLouth. Davis opened the seventh with a single, moved to third on a double by Manny Machado and came home on Robert Andinos sacrifice fly to left. Loup replaced Villanueva and immediately balked in the sixth run of the game. Markakis doubled and scored on a single by Hardy. Jones and Wieters led off the five-run eighth with singles and Davis knocked in one run with a double. Chad Beck replaced Loup and gave up run-scoring singles to Reynolds and Machado. Markakis doubled with one out to score a run. Hardy reached first on Becks error and McLouth singled in a run. The Orioles have won 21 of their past 29 game to catch the Yankees. "Weve got too many bridges to cross, too many things to do, to accomplish the goal everybody had coming out of spring training," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "Were trying to stay in the moment, stay in whats important and keep a grip on reality." Notes: Some of the announced crowd of 13,556 at Rogers Centre used umbrellas or scurried for cover when the rain came in the sixth and an announcement was made that technical difficulties the roof closed more slowly than usual ... Outfielder Anthony Gose and right-handed reliever Beck joined the Blue Jays Tuesday as call-ups from triple-A Las Vegas. ...Catcher J.P. Arencibia (fractured right hand) was 0-for-4 with a walk playing while behind the plate for Dunedin in the single-A teams 1-0 playoff loss to Lakeland on Tuesday on his rehabilitation assignment. ...Brandon Morrow (8-5, 2.93 earned-run average) will start Wednesdays series finale for the Blue Jays against Miguel Gonzalez (6-3, 3.31 ERA). ' ' '
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