Local hockey players hospitalized for breathing issues, chest pain; cause under investigation
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY-TV) – Several members of UNCW and Virginia Tech club teams sought medical attention after a game Saturday at Polar Ice House Wilmington.
“I king of noticed some of the symptoms and a little bit heavy breathing, a little bit of the chest tightness,” said Eric Wright, a referee.
During the game Saturday night, Wright was one of four referees when the night took a turn.
“And then coming out kind of in that third period, we noticed that a lot more of the student athletes were kind of hacking and coughing as well.”
New Hanover County Fire Rescue responded to the ice house for a report of an ammonia leak, but found no evidence of it.
But UNCW confirmed with WWAY that several students from the university and Virginia tech went to the hospital for breathing issues and chest pain.
“Our one official that we had that ended up going to the hospital,” Wright said.
Dave Standley, the Virginia Tech Hockey assistant coach shared a statement with WWAY saying in part:
“The athletes from both universities as well as the referee’s that administered the game deserve honest answers that may also be key to helping with their treatment.”
Michael Baxter, executive vice president of the Polar Ice House parent company said the game between UNCW and Virginia Tech seems to be a one off.
“We reached out talked to the group that skated prior to the UNCW game on Saturday we didn’t have any reported issues from anybody in that group,” Baxter said.
Baxter said they are continuing to investigate to find the cause.
“Parents and kids, they have every right to be concerned, right and worried. And that’s why we acted as quickly as we did,” Baxter said. “We just need to make sure that every I is dotted and T is crossed.”
Wright, a rink rat, gave his own theories including an ammonia leak from HVAC or CO2 emissions from Zambonis that clear the ice
“The other thing is a possible dehumidification issue with just poor ventilation maybe in the building that might have just led to a little bit of some sort of a fog or something within the actual rink itself,” Wright said.
All members of the UNCW team were released from medical care shortly after they were evaluated.
“We love our sport, we love everything like that, to shut down a rink is not what we’re looking for,” Wright said. “We’re looking to be able to protect the community.”
Baxter said UNCW Health and Human Services will be at the rink on Tuesday to investigate further.
