Fan emergency pauses Oilers game against Flames
(Photo Credit: Primestock Photography/ Shutterstock)

HIGHLIGHTS

  • A medical emergency in the stands briefly halted Saturday’s Flames-Oilers game in Edmonton
  • First responders and team doctors attended to a fan who collapsed behind the Oilers bench
  • Read below for video, plus details on how the incident affected gameplay

It was a scary scene Saturday night in Edmonton as a fan suffered a medical emergency in the stands during the Flames and Oilers game.

Early in the first period, the game was put on pause for several minutes after it was learned a fan was in distress behind the benches at Rogers Place.

There was an eery silence that fell upon the stadium as players and fans alike were waiting in concern as the fan was tended to by first responders and team doctors.

Louie DeBrusk of Sportsnet reported live on the broadcast that the fan collapsed while going down the stairs behind the Oilers bench.

Aside from the obvious first aid being administered to the fan, there were multiple reasons for the delay in action being so lengthy. One reason being the fact that one of the Oilers’ team doctors was assisting with the medical aid, and league protocol requires a team doctor present on the bench for play to continue.

Another reason was that the ambulance on standby was used to transport the fan to a local hospital, and league protocol also requires an ambulance on standby for the players at all times for obvious reasons.

Similarly back in January of 2023, an American Hockey League game in Toronto was completely suspended and postponed till another date, after a fan in that game also suffered a medical emergency and was transported to nearby hospital.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the fan, and we’re wishing them a full and speedy recovery.