Stars D Numminen out indefinitely with heart ailment

[Murphy3]

Stars D Numminen out indefinitely with heart ailment


March 20, 2004
DALLAS (Ticker) - Dallas Stars defenseman Teppo Numminen has been diagnosed with a heart ailment that will sideline him indefinitely, the team announced Saturday.

Numminen has a dilated aorta, one of the large arteries leaving the heart. While the ailment is not life-threatening, the Stars gave no indication when he would return to the lineup.

"We're disappointed for Teppo that this condition has sidelined him from playing," general manager Doug Armstrong said. "Our primary concern at this time is Teppo's health. Thankfully, they caught this problem now and he can work with doctors to correct it and live a long, healthy life."



Numminen played in Thursday's 3-0 win over Vancouver before undergoing tests that revealed the problem. He did not attend Saturday's home game against St. Louis.

"The issue in question is whether he can play hockey at that level with an aorta dilated. We will know the answer to that in a couple of weeks," team internist Dr. John C. Brooks said. "It is great news that there is no immediate danger."

The 35-year-old Finn has three goals and 13 assists in 59 games.

Numminen has played 1,157 games, second behind Jari Kurri among players born outside North America. The Stars acquired him from Phoenix last July.

Numminen ranks fifth among European defenseman in career scoring with 111 goals and 439 assists, trailing Borje Salming, Nicklas Lidstrom, Fredrik Olausson and Sergei Zubov.




Updated on Saturday, Mar 20, 2004

[Murphy3]

I have heard that this is the same heart issue that John Ritter died from. I could be wrong, but that's just what I've heard.
Good luck Numminen. You and heart will remain in my thoughts and prayers.

[ames7]

That's what they say. However, they said in the news conference it is not life-threatening & shouldn't affect his lifestyle. The question is whether he can play hockey. He might be done for good. Thank God they caught it before anything really bad could happen. We'll be thinking of him.

Oh, if you want to send in a get well message, the Stars have set up an email:
GetWellSoon@dallasstars.com

I've sent mine in. On a side note, so this is why we picked up the 2 extra D men at the deadline. Zubov went down tonight too.

[Murphy3]

No, fortunately they caught it before it became a life threatening issue.

And yes, the addition of the 2 extra defenseman is definetly a life saver now.

[Jbrjo]

ESPN.com news services
Teppo Numminen's heart trouble won't keep the Dallas Stars defenseman off the ice for good, according to several reports.

Numminen was diagnosed with a dilated aorta March 19, and he told The Dallas Morning News that he mentally retired after hearing the news.
After getting opinions from several more specialists, however, Numminen has been cleared to return to the ice, and he said on the team's Web site that he will play Wednesday against the Edmonton Oilers.

"It's not as bad as we thought," Numminen said. "Eventually I have to have surgery on it, but not now. We'll monitor it every six months or once a year."The 35-year-old player said the surgery likely wouldn't be required for another five to 10 years.

He told the Morning News that several doctors had told him he could play without risking serious injury."Emotionally, it was a roller-coaster ride," Numminen said. "But three or four doctors said the same thing. They said it wouldn't be a problem for me to play."

Numminen, who has missed five games, skated Sunday and Monday, according to the Morning News.Dallas coach Dave Tippett told the paper that Numminen was joking Monday about the great lengths he had to go to to get a week off.Tippett wasn't joking when he said the depleted Stars would be glad to have Numminen back, what with fellow blue-liners Jon Klemm (groin) and Sergei Zubov (charley horse) ailing.

"He plays a lot of situations for us," Tippett told the Morning News. "He's a good penalty killer. He plays against the top players. He's on the point on the power play. When you can add a guy like that to your lineup, it enhances your hockey team."

ESPN article

---What a relief....I am glad that Numminen is OK and also very glad because the Stars depleated roster need help. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

[ames7]

I hope the AAC fans give Teppo a standing O tonight. I'm so glad he is ok. He deserves to be part of this run after going through this season.

On the Stars front, this is great news since apparently Zubov & Klemm aren't ready. Our blue line is a mess. Did anyone else catch poor Boucher trying to communicate w/non-English-speaking Sekeras the other night?