Peverley visits with Stars after release from hospital

Dallas Stars forward Rich Peverley visited with his teammates Thursday after being released from the hospital Wednesday night.

"He walked in the back and started shaking hands, and he didn't get far, he was kind of swarmed," Stars forward Ray Whitney told the Dallas Morning News. "We didn't shake hands so much as we all hugged him. It was an emotional moment."

Peverley, who is scheduled to have surgery at the Cleveland Clinic to remedy the heart issue that caused him to collapse on the bench during a game Monday against the Columbus Blue Jackets, will wear a monitoring vest at home, according to the newspaper.

"He just seems completely normal, but we all know it's more serious than that," Whitney said. "But it's such a great thing to have him here and to know he's OK. He has a lot of things he has to do, but from where he was to where he is now, it's great to see him."

Peverley will not play again this season. His heart issue, atrial fibrillation, is a form of cardiac arrhythmia. The procedure he will undergo is aimed at regulating his heart rate, and recovery will take at least a few months. Dr. Robert J. Dimeff, the Stars' director of medical services, said Peverley will undergo the procedure soon.

Peverley collapsed after returning to the bench following a shift 5:50 into the first period of the game against the Blue Jackets at American Airlines Center. He was quickly carried to a hallway behind the Stars bench, where he was resuscitated by medical personnel before being taken to the hospital.

Peverley appeared briefly at a press conference at University of Texas Southwestern St. Paul University Hospital on Wednesday afternoon, reading a short statement thanking doctors for saving his life, and Stars coaches, front office and fans for their support.

Coach Lindy Ruff said it was good for Peverley's teammates to see him, and for him to see them.

"I think it means a lot," Ruff said. "That camaraderie in the dressing room and the line he plays with, the teammates he sits next to, just to walk back in the facility here and be part of it. For him, this is tough because hockey has been his life and he gets to come and watch practice and I'm pretty sure watching practice wasn't what he had in mind. At the same point, it had to be a real good day for him."

The game Monday was postponed and will be made up at a date to be determined by the NHL.