Jordan Sigalet collapses during game in Providence

[TG1996]

http://hfboards.com/showthread.php?t=443408

Apparently he collapsed for 10-15 seconds while play was in the other end, was wheeled off on a stretcher. Someone with the team (I think?) said it was related to his MS, and sounded like a scary moment. Jonathan finished the game, but bolted right after to get to the hospital.

(All that is from the above thread.)


Hopefully Jordan is okay!

[FindlayFalcon]

More on his collapse from various newspapers

http://www.projo.com/pbruins/content/sp ... 0052f.html

http://www.projo.com/pbruins/content/sp ... 74cf6.html

http://www.telegram.com/article/2007111 ... 70446/1009

http://www.turnto10.com/northeast/jar/s ... -0031.html


Our thoughts and prayers are with you Siggy.

[falcons86]

God bless you Jordan. Cookie and I are thinking about you.

[falconfan1999]

Sending good karma to the whole Sigalet family!

[MACMAN]

Prayers to the Sig family

[Tech83]

I remember reading somewhere, when Siggy was still at BG, that there was concern about him not overheating as it can cause problems with the MS. I remember reading where Siggy was to keep his body temp down as best as possible with the water bottle - which most goalies do anyway - they wanted Siggy to do it more. I'll never find THAT article to link but here is something on the topic.

http://neurologicalillness.suite101.com ... s_and_heat

[BGDrew]

An update on Siggy:

Siggy should be released from the hospital either Sunday or Monday according to Little Siggy. The current hypothesis is that dust from construction at the arena at Providence might have triggered an attack. Also, at an earlier game on the road the home team had shot off pyrotechnics in the arena. This can trigger an attack or at least bother someone with MS.

Here's the events as they happened:

While the puck was down in the Sharks end, Jordan collapsed face first. A solid 10-15 seconds passed before the goal judge turned on the goal light to get the officials attention. Once they looked back and saw Sigalet they blew the whistle and called the training staff onto the ice. He was responsive and aware as they took him off, but didn't remember collapsing. He was taken to the hospital and at one point was in serious condition.

At this point they are saying he could be out for awhile, but awhile hasn't really been defined yet. He's definitely in our thoughts right now. There was some talk that he was getting ready for a solid push for more playing time.

[ZiggyZoomba]

This brought tears to my eyes...

God bless Jordan and his heart....

[Falcon Fanatic]

Thanks for the update, Drew. Paluch gave some info on Jordan at the parent dinner after the game last night. At that point he didn't have much more information other than he'd be in the hospital for a few days and didn't know what caused it.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Jordan and his family. GET WELL SOON!!

[hutchirish]

thoughts and prayers to the entire family...

[Falconfreak90]

Man, what a scary thing! I will definitely keep the prayers coming.

[Falcon Fanatic]

Here's an inspiring story about a woman with MS who has raised a lot of money for research:

http://www.cnn.com/2007/LIVING/10/09/ba ... index.html

[FindlayFalcon]

Is there any more news on Jordan?

[Freddie]

I have not heard anything since speaking with his mom and Jonathon Sunday evening. They thought Jordan would be released Monday or Tuesday...lots of tests, etc. Jordan's mom flew from Vancouver to Providence Saturday, and will be staying for a while.

You might be interested to know that they both wanted to know all the details about the resurgence of hockey here.

[TheKa]

This is the latest update on Jordan from the Providence Journal. Proving once again what an amazing Human-Being Jordan is. Best wishes to the entire Sigalet family! GET WELL SOON SIGGY!!!

Sigalet is toughing out his MS


01:00 AM EST on Sunday, November 25, 2007

BY JOE McDONALD

Journal Sports Writer


PROVIDENCE ­ Jonathan Sigalet and his Providence Bruins teammates arrived at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center yesterday morning ready to prepare for the team’s game last night at Worcester.

Across the city, Jonathan’s brother Jordan, a goaltender for the P-Bruins, remained at Rhode Island Hospital after collapsing on the ice during a game a little more than a week ago. The fall was the result of complications from Jordan’s battle with multiple sclerosis. There’s a strong possibility he will be moved to a rehabilitations center, perhaps as soon as tomorrow.

There’s still no timetable for a possible return to the ice.

Jordan, who was diagnosed with the disease in March 2004 while he was a junior at Bowling Green, has little movement in his legs and needs assistance to walk. Jonathan said his older [brother] is getting better, and that’s the only thing the family is concerned about right now.

“He hasn’t said much about hockey,” said Jonathan. “He’s staying really positive. He has a great attitude towards it, and he has since Day One, when he was diagnosed. I’ve been [at the hospital] with my family and have watched him go through some of his therapy, and just trying to stand up is hard to watch. At the same time, he’s got a great attitude about it.”

The family and the team are still trying to piece together exactly what happened. The P-Bruins and the Worcester Sharks were midway through the third period of the game that Providence eventually won, 5-2. Jordan Sigalet was playing a solid game between the pipes.

The play was in the neutral zone when Sigalet collapsed and, according to Jonathan, Jordan doesn’t remember if his legs just gave out and he hit the ice face-first or if he lost consciousness. There’s about a three- to four-minute span before the collapse that Jordan can’t recall. A fan who was sitting behind the net said he saw Sigalet trying to get the attention of the goal judge just before he collapsed.

When team trainer Mike Poirier and the medical staff took Sigalet off the ice on a stretcher, the goalie was conscious and alert.

MS is an inflammatory disease that affects the central nervous system, and it’s believed Jordan suffered what is known as relapsing remitting, which is the most common form of MS and includes sporadic attacks similar to what occurred on Nov. 16.

Living and playing with MS, Jordan has always said he realized what he’s dealing with and the effect it has on his body.

“I have to take it day by day,” he said in January 2006. “The disease I have is so unpredictable; I could not be walking tomorrow. I just have to keep a positive attitude, and I’ve found that is getting me through the bad days.”

That statement still holds true today.

Because of the knowledge the Sigalet brothers have of the disease, episodes like Jordan’s latest have become a way of life.

“You know it’s a possibility, but you really don’t think about it because he looks so strong on the outside,” said Jonathan. “Even that night, he was playing so well in the game, and then out of nowhere he’s out cold on the ice. It came out of left field, but that’s the disease. It’s really sporadic and affects everyone differently.”

A similar episode occurred in Manchester a couple of seasons ago, but that time Jordan left the ice on his own after feeling sick. He later realized the smoke from pregame pyrotechnics had reacted with his medication and caused him to feel ill. There was some speculation that the renovation work at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center may have contributed to Jordan’s collapse, but that’s not the case.

Through it all, Jordan Sigalet has persevered.

The 26-year-old was looking forward to a promising pro career after completing his collegiate days at Bowling Green, where he was a Hobey Baker Award finalist in 2005. The Boston Bruins picked him in the seventh round (209th overall) in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft, and he began his pro career with Providence in 2005.

Jonathan, 21, played two seasons at Bowling Green with Jordan and decided to pass up his final two collegiate seasons, after the Bruins selected him in the fourth round (100th overall) of the 2005 draft, for a chance to play pro hockey with his brother.

“When my career is all said and done, and whether I make the NHL or not, I wanted to have those years playing with him,” Jonathan said. “I’m really glad I left school early to come here and be with him. It’s been the best five years of my life playing together with him. Hopefully, he can get healthy and back to playing again.”

The two arrived in Providence as rookies for the 2005-06 season, and have given each other a support system. The older brother has helped the younger one get through the growing pains of becoming a pro at such a young age, and the younger Sigalet has helped the older one deal with his disease.

The brothers are five years apart in age ­ almost to the day ­ and never has either one asked that one unthinkable question.

“I can ask ‘Why?’ and he can ask the same question, but it doesn’t really get you anywhere,” said Jonathan. “He has accepted that he’s been stuck with this and he’s moved forward. That’s why he’s been so successful since he’s been diagnosed. He didn’t sit and dwell on it.”

In fact, Jordan has done the opposite.

He’s become an ambassador for the MS Society and has worked countless hours raising money and awareness of the disease. He created “Sigalet Saves for MS,” where for every save he makes EMD Serono, Inc. makes a $20 donation to the Rhode Island Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Jordan declined to be interviewed, but he did release a statement, saying he’s thankful for all of the support he has received from the fans, the doctors, the team and its players.

“I am staying positive,” he said. “I’m keeping in good spirits and feeling better each day. Again, thank you to everyone for your well wishes, support and privacy you have shown myself, Jonathan and our family at this time.”