Pavelec's collapse came on Thrashers' medical rehearsal night

“It was just ironic,” said Tommy Alva, the Thrashers’ head athletic trainer. “You look at the schedule and you pick a date that’s going to work with all the doctors, and the paramedics. That day just worked for everybody."

Mock drills are used to practice putting an injured player on a spine board and stretcher, especially if he is up against the boards. Procedures are in place in the event a player is not breathing when reached on the ice.

“Honestly, I got very spooked,” Alva said. “The reason is because nine times out of 10, I usually see what happens. I usually see a guy get hit with a puck or a stick. I usually see a guy slide into the boards. This one, he just fell. Nobody around him. It was spooky."

Alva and assistant trainer Step Roberts checked for a pulse and breathing sounds when they reached Pavelec. They determined he had lost consciousness. The next thing they checked was his neck and spine. Paramedics and team doctors soon arrived.

Pavelec started to regain consciousness as he was being placed in an ambulance. He later said he could not feel his legs.

Pavelec presented issues for the medical staff, which had to safely remove his goalie mask. His chest protector made it difficult to get his head properly supported. He also had to be safely secured to the spine board and stretcher with bulky pads.

"I got asked a lot of questions after that incident from other trainers and doctors, and one thing I consistently told them is no matter how many times you practice that it never turns out the same," Alva said. "Everything is going to be different. You have to improvise and adapt and deal with the situation with what you are given in that moment of time.”

The NHL requires that certain medical staff attend every game. The Thrashers use Dr. Scott Gillogly as head team physician and orthopaedic surgeon. They are also required to have an internist, oral and facial surgeon and dentist. These doctors are available should the visiting team require medical attention. During the playoffs, physicians travel with their teams.