Laval Rocket fan dies during game at Place Bell
A game between the Laval Rocket and the Manitoba Moose at Place Bell ended early on Saturday afternoon when a fan in the stands experienced a medical emergency.
There was a minute and 12 seconds left in the third period of the American Hockey League game; the Rocket was behind 3-0.
In a video from the game, emergency responders could be seen performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation on someone in the stands.
Sports broadcaster RDS confirmed early Sunday afternoon that someone had died at the game.
Shortly after, the
Laval Rocket organization posted a message on social media:
“It is with deep sadness that the Laval Rocket has learned of the passing of its fan Michel Pelletier, who attended yesterday’s game at Place Bell. We would like to offer our most sincere condolences to his family and all his loved ones.
“Having been part of the members’ community for seven seasons, he has always been there to encourage us and the Rocket family is wholeheartedly with his family.”
Sophie Pelletier, identifying herself in
a post on the Laval Rocket’s Facebook page
as the daughter of the victim, said her father had died peacefully at the Rocket game, “where he liked to be. He was a really big fan of the club.”
The victim’s brother said in a post: “I would like to highlight the class shown by the Rocket organization. My brother was a HUGE Rocket fan, and you gave him a lot of joy over the past few seasons.
“Thank you to the organization and to all the fans of this GREAT club! Thank you also to all the medical responders who tried to save his life.”
A fan who attended the game, Marie-Hélène Séguin, posted: “Bravo to the organization for its decision to stop the game — a decision full of empathy.”
She said someone at the game told her that rookie goalie Jacob Fowler had “indicated that something was happening in the stands (and) they stopped the game.”
This was
Fowler’s first game with the Rocket since an announcement on Friday
that the 21-year-old goaltender was being sent down from the Montreal Canadiens, where he had played since December.
