From Damar Hamlin to Bronny James and, most recently, one of Alabama's most promising high school basketball stars, the sports world has had many recent reminders that cardiac arrests are a legitimate risk for even the healthiest and youngest athletes.

When every second counts, preparedness is essential to saving lives. The world's top athletes can rely on trainers to perform life-saving measures, but most - from high school gyms to community hockey arenas - must rely on bystanders. They rely on you. Do enough of us know what to do in the event of a sports-related cardiac arrest?

"I always give credit to those five individuals that went on and off of my chest, performing CPR for 11 minutes, for saving my life," Breanna Sudano says. Back in 2011, while playing for Perry Hall (Maryland) High School's junior varsity field hockey team, Sudano had just scored a go-ahead goal when she collapsed. Her heart and breathing stopped. At the age of 13, she was in cardiac arrest.

Because there was no automated external defibrillator (AED) present on the field, a bystander had to run into the school to locate it, which caused a delay in restarting Sudano's heart. Those 11 minutes could have had profound neurological consequences had it not been for Sudano's luck that day - three cardiac nurses were at the game and immediately began hands-only CPR.

"It didn't cause any brain or organ damage because of how perfectly they executed it," she says. Other athletes might not be so lucky; that's where trained bystanders and functional AEDs come into play.

​​"I think it's an individual's responsibility to have a basic understanding of CPR, and the use of an AED and how they might intervene in an event of an emergency. I think that's a life skill," says Andrew Lotto, senior manager of business development and engagement at the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada.

"Cardiac arrest is not discriminatory to age - it can happen to young kids in sports, it can happen to young adults playing sports, it can happen to the elderly. I think it's really important that sports and athletic facilities be equipped with AEDs and that individuals at those facilities know how to use them," he said.

In professional sports, and in most college sports scenarios, trained medical staff are on hand with the proper equipment to respond in a cardiac emergency. That's what helped Danish soccer star Christian Eriksen when he collapsed on the pitch during a Euro 2020 match. Swift medical intervention saved his life.

But even the professionals can't always make a miracle happen.

Hank Gathers led the NCAA in scoring and rebounding as a junior for Loyola Marymount during the 1988-89 basketball season. But early in his senior season, he collapsed on the court due to a mysterious heart condition. Without fully diagnosing Gathers, doctors cleared him to return to play. He later fatally collapsed on the court during a West Coast Conference tournament game. Even though a defibrillator was courtside, Gathers didn't receive a shock until he was taken off the court. Despite attempts to resuscitate him, Gathers' death underscored the need for improved medical protocols and screenings in sports.

Today, the NCAA is still advocating for improved medical standards, not just within their own colleges but for high school athletes too. "Prompt recognition and treatment of cardiac arrest with CPR and AED placement in student-athletes leads to survival rates approaching 90%," NCAA chief medical officer Dr. Brian Hainline said via email. "Studies demonstrate that survival rate decreases for every minute that AED is not utilized. The low-hanging fruit of mitigating death from cardiac arrest is widespread certification of CPR/AED for student-athletes and athletics personnel coupled with strategic locations of AEDs."

Lotto has already done a lot of work in Canada to ensure every athlete has access to these lifesaving tools. His organization worked with the Canadian federal government to place 32,034 AEDs in any athletic facility that requested one across the country.

"What Heart and Stroke had intended to do was make sure that defibrillators were as commonplace as fire extinguishers," Lotto says.

In the United States, the NFL has led a similar initiative in the aftermath of Hamlin's cardiac arrest. In collaboration with the NBA, MLB, MLS, the NHL, and the NCAA, the league has advocated for better adoption of emergency best practices in high schools and clearly marked AEDs at each athletic venue where high school practices or competitions are held. Plus, they're pushing for CPR and AED education for coaches. Just a few months into the coalition's work, they've seen some meaningful progress.

“Since the launch in March, the Smart Heart Sports Coalition has grown in members and momentum," Jeff Miller, NFL executive vice president of communications, public affairs and policy said via email. "During the past several months, we’ve seen policymakers in states such as New Mexico, Indiana and Kentucky take action and we’ll continue our advocacy in the months and years ahead until every state in the country adopts these life-saving measures.”

Specifically, in April, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed SB 450 into law, mandating that all licensed coaches employed by school districts obtain CPR certification with knowledge of AED use. Indiana passed legislation that emphasizes the presence of AEDs where students face a heightened risk of sudden cardiac arrest.

But while this momentum might catalyze action, the success of these efforts comes down to maintenance. "It's one thing to get the AEDs on the ground, it's an entirely different thing to keep them up to date," Lotto says. "The maintenance is really important - that can't be perpetually funded by the government and Heart and Stroke. Local facilities need to make a commitment."

Not only do AED batteries need to be changed regularly - every two to five years depending on the model - but the pads that are placed on a patient in an emergency also need upkeep. The adhesive gel dries up, so they need to be replaced every two years. An AED's location should also be indicated with good signage and registered with emergency services so bystanders can be directed to the nearest one in a lifesaving situation. There are currently no federal regulations in Canada or the United States that mandate the upkeep of AEDs.

And even a nearby and well-maintained AED is useless without someone who knows how to use it. Often, that life-saving task comes down to onlookers. That's where you come in. Recently, a group of recreational basketball players in South Brunswick, New Jersey saved one of their teammates with CPR and AED knowledge and quick action.

"If somebody collapses, your best bet is to call 911 and shout for a defibrillator," Lotto says.

"In the meantime, push hard and fast in the center of the chest. As soon as the AED arrives, put it on the person. It coaches you through voice prompts, it will tell you what to do. They are foolproof. The average citizen needs to know what to do and what actions to take. And they're as simple as those three steps."

Jolene Latimer is a video producer and feature writer at theScore.

Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving crossed off the No. 1 priority on his offseason checklist by signing Auston Matthews to a four-year, $53-million extension, but the executive said his star sniper was similarly eager to put pen to paper.

"You're talking about one of the world's best talents. In the situation he was in, he could come in and demand a whole lot more than what he got. That's just the reality," Treliving said Friday, according to Sports Illustrated's David Alter.

"It gets done because Auston says he wants to get it done. I want it to be a non-issue. I want the focus to be where it needs to be and that's on winning and putting all of our energies on the ice. And that's why it's done. At the end of the day, it's a sign of leadership."

Matthews has one season remaining on his current deal with an average annual value of $11.64 million, and he could have become an unrestricted free agent next summer. His new $13.25-million cap hit will make him the highest-paid player in the league beginning in 2024-25, beating out Colorado Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon's $12.6-million price tag.

The two-time Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy winner signed a five-year extension upon the expiry of his entry-level deal in 2019 and followed that up with a four-year pact. Matthews explained that he felt like a shorter-term contract just struck "the right balance."

"It was a lot of long conversations, a lot of thought. ... In the end, this is kind of what I felt most comfortable with. ... I don't think I've ever done things just to be different, I just felt strongly in my situation and my position that that was the best deal for myself and the best deal for the team," he said, per TSN.

Matthews will be 30 years old when his new deal expires, and he will have been in Toronto for 12 seasons by that point. He already has 299 goals in 481 games as a Maple Leaf, meaning he's 122 tallies away from surpassing Mats Sundin, who is the franchise's all-time leader in that category.

If Matthews averages 24 goals in each of the next five seasons, he can replace Sundin as No. 1 in the record books, but the talented center is far more interested in winning a Stanley Cup than individual accolades.

"My biggest priority as a Maple Leaf is to be the best teammate, the best player that I can be and obviously do my best to take this team where we're trying to go," he said.

He added, "It's been a real honor to be a part of this organization, it's something that I definitely don't take for granted."

William Nylander is also eligible to sign an extension this summer, but he said Wednesday that he isn't in a big rush to get a deal done. Treliving echoed that sentiment on Friday, adding that he'll continue to work toward a new contract with the winger, per Sportsnet's Luke Fox.

Puck drops on the Maple Leafs' 2023-24 season on Oct. 11 against the Montreal Canadiens.

Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Alex Galchenyuk is headed overseas after penning a two-year pact with KHL club SKA Saint Petersburg, the team announced Friday.

Galchenyuk was arrested July 9 in Scottsdale, Arizona, on several charges, including private property hit and run, disorderly conduct, failure to obey, resisting arrest, and threatening or intimidating. No physical injuries resulted from the hit and run, only property damage.

A police report said Galchenyuk was acting "erratic and aggressive" during the incident and directed racial slurs toward a police officer in training while threatening to have an officer and their family killed.

The Arizona Coyotes terminated Galchenyuk's contract on July 13, only 12 days after they signed him to a one-year deal worth $750,000 as a free agent.

Galchenyuk issued an apology to the police for his "deeply disrespectful and despicable behavior" on July 18 and announced he was entering the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program.

He pleaded guilty to one misdemeanour threatening charge in Scottsdale City Court on Monday, but five other charges were dropped.

Galchenyuk was sentenced to 30 days in jail, with 27 days being suspended upon completing a recovery program, and 12 months without consuming or possessing alcohol.

The 29-year-old suited up for the Montreal Canadiens, Coyotes, Pittsburgh Penguins, Minnesota Wild, Ottawa Senators, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Colorado Avalanche over 11 seasons.

Selected by the Canadiens with the third overall pick in the 2012 NHL Draft, Galchenyuk amassed 146 goals and 354 points over 654 contests.

Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With Matt away today, Jeff Paterson joins as co-host alongside Blake, and the topic of an Elias Pettersson extension remains a focus. Jeff and Blake talk to John Shannon about any Auston Matthews contract comparisons, plus the possibility of other business being done before training camp.

Then, Blake and Jeff go toe to toe in another edition of SvP, wondering if it’ll be a short or long term deal for EP40 when it does happen.

BC Lions owner Amar Doman also stops by for a mid season report card, and to hype the Lions home game on Saturday vs Hamilton.

Presented by Applewood Auto Group.

Follow us on social (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok & YouTube). Powered by Go Goat Sports

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jake Sanderson's accomplishments in his rookie campaign didn't go unnoticed by his captain, with Brady Tkachuk tabbing the young Ottawa Senators defenseman "the most underrated player" in the league.

"I think (Sanderson's) first pro season, what he did for our team and ... right from Game 1, how much he made our team better, coming out of college," Tkachuk said during a recent appearance on the "Dropping the Gloves" podcast. "The impact he had, the minutes he played, I just couldn't believe he wasn't even in the run for (the Calder Trophy).

"I was like, 'This guy is one of the most important players on our team' and it went unnoticed. His speed, his hockey sense, but his work ethic is second to none. I haven't seen a guy work like he did throughout the year. It was quite impressive. ... I'm excited to see what he's going to do for us this year because he's going to be an awesome player for us."

Sanderson put up four goals and 32 points in 77 matchups in 2022-23 while averaging 21:55 minutes per contest, good for the second-most playing time on the Senators. He also led the entire rookie class with 147 blocks.

It wasn't like the Senators sheltered the 21-year-old, either. He spent the bulk of his ice time matching up against opponents' top lines, played a team-high 3:17 shorthanded minutes every game, and started just 42.7% of his shifts in the offensive zone at five-on-five, according to Natural Stat Trick.

Sanderson finished sixth in Calder Trophy voting as a result of his efforts, behind Dallas Stars scorer Wyatt Johnston, Arizona Coyotes playmaker Matias Maccelli, and the three finalists: Edmonton Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner, Buffalo Sabres blue-liner Owen Power, and Seattle Kraken center Matty Beniers.

Tkachuk also pointed to Tim Stutzle as one of the NHL's more unheralded players. The German forward posted a career-high 39 goals and 90 points in 78 games last season, but Tkachuk emphasized that Stutzle grew beyond the scoresheet, too.

"What I like most about it is, he's stepping up into a leadership role every single day," Tkachuk said. "He's working on the ice, leading by example, but also being a leader off the ice and being there for guys. He's fiery, too, so he'll stick up for anybody in little scrums and battles as well."

The Senators finished six points behind the Florida Panthers for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference and missed the playoffs for the sixth straight season. There were signs of growth, though, with Ottawa claiming its highest win and point totals (39 and 86, respectively) since 2016-17.

The puck drops on the Senators' 2023-24 campaign on Oct. 11 against the Carolina Hurricanes.

Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.