
Ted's Miracle on Ice
Donation protected
Friday, March 13th, had all the makings of a great day in Eagle River, WI. After all, it was a Friday and friends of many years were on the ice at the historic Eagle River Ice Arena or, as it is best known, The Dome .
We gather every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 12 to 1 to play in the NHL (Noontime Hockey League). Men and women ranging in age from those in their teens to their eighties with abilities ranging from beginners to a lifetime of hockey experience and proficiency. The NHL starts after the most senior members of the group divide the players as equally as possible. We take our respective sides and eagerly await the puck drop.

This particular day, I was on the same team with Ted. Ted’s opportunities to play in the NHL were limited due to his work schedule; but, this Friday, Ted had the day off and was going to enjoy playing hockey.
After the puck drop, both teams took advantage of opportunities to score goals and trade some healthy competitive banter on the ice. About 20 minutes into play, my team had possession of the puck and began moving through the neutral zone. Ted was about 15 feet in front me and to my left when he suddenly fell backward taking a hard hit on the back of his head. I remember thinking that his fall didn’t look like he had hit something on the ice or lost an edge. As Ted lay motionless on the ice, I quickly realized this was much more serious than just a common slip on the ice.
Rather than skating over to Ted and giving him grief over falling on the “slippery” ice, we were checking for a pulse and trying to get him to respond. No pulse, no response, and no breathing. Luckily, the NHL members are all dedicated and supportive of this hockey family and acted immediately for Ted’s well being. A few of us started CPR while others went for an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) and to contact emergency services.
This situation was a strange combination of everything happening very quickly and moving slowly. In my mind, I was thinking about the various hockey camps, tournaments, and pickup games Ted and I had attended. I thought of his wife and how impossible it would be for her to say goodbye. I thought about how, not many years before, a similar situation tragically happened to another NHL player which prompted the installation of the AED in The Dome. I hoped this time the outcome would be different.

The AED finally arrived and luckily, the instructions were clear. The AED contained a large pad with wires showing anatomical markers to place a red line imprinted on the pad down the center of his chest. As soon as the machine was turned on, it began the process of evaluating the electrical activity of Ted’s heart and telling us when to perform CPR and when to stand clear for delivery of a shock. We completed a total of three rounds of CPR and electrical shocks before we started to notice that Ted was starting to move his legs. It was at this moment that an ambulance arrived and transported Ted to the local hospital.
Unfortunately, Ted’s medical care did not end with a short stay at the local hospital. As the afternoon progressed, it was clear that Ted’s heart was going to need some advanced care, not available in our rural community, which brings me to a large part of my reason for seeking your financial support of Ted & Evette. Ted recently received a $28,000 bill for the helicopter transport alone. Another $8,000 bill was received for the ambulance to our rural hospital. Can you believe it—$36,000 just to reach the level of care he needed? And none of it covered by his medical insurance.
If you are lucky enough to have had medical insurance for the last several years, you realize how much the financial burden has shifted to the insured. High deductible health plans with 30% out of pocket amounts are becoming the norm. Provider fees, hospitals fees, and transport fees, if covered, have numerous limitations and reimbursement requirements.
I am asking for your support to relieve some of the financial burden faced by Ted & Evette. Recovery from this medical event should be the top priority without the added stress caused by a large financial burden.

I know the goal of this GoFundMe challenge is very large. And maybe it is too much to ask. But, I have faith that the hockey community, in the beautiful Northwoods community members, and all of our families and friends will do what they can to support a brother in need.
I am happy to report that Ted’s recovery is going well. On June 12th, Ted was able to lace up his skates for a few, slow laps, around the ice. His doctors indicate that it will take up to a year to be 100% again and are amazed at his recovery given the extensive blockages he had in the arteries feeding his heart. It’s clear to all of us in the NHL that we witnessed a miracle on ice.
Take a look at Ted's first time back on the ice wearing number 13:
We gather every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 12 to 1 to play in the NHL (Noontime Hockey League). Men and women ranging in age from those in their teens to their eighties with abilities ranging from beginners to a lifetime of hockey experience and proficiency. The NHL starts after the most senior members of the group divide the players as equally as possible. We take our respective sides and eagerly await the puck drop.

This particular day, I was on the same team with Ted. Ted’s opportunities to play in the NHL were limited due to his work schedule; but, this Friday, Ted had the day off and was going to enjoy playing hockey.
After the puck drop, both teams took advantage of opportunities to score goals and trade some healthy competitive banter on the ice. About 20 minutes into play, my team had possession of the puck and began moving through the neutral zone. Ted was about 15 feet in front me and to my left when he suddenly fell backward taking a hard hit on the back of his head. I remember thinking that his fall didn’t look like he had hit something on the ice or lost an edge. As Ted lay motionless on the ice, I quickly realized this was much more serious than just a common slip on the ice.
Rather than skating over to Ted and giving him grief over falling on the “slippery” ice, we were checking for a pulse and trying to get him to respond. No pulse, no response, and no breathing. Luckily, the NHL members are all dedicated and supportive of this hockey family and acted immediately for Ted’s well being. A few of us started CPR while others went for an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) and to contact emergency services.
This situation was a strange combination of everything happening very quickly and moving slowly. In my mind, I was thinking about the various hockey camps, tournaments, and pickup games Ted and I had attended. I thought of his wife and how impossible it would be for her to say goodbye. I thought about how, not many years before, a similar situation tragically happened to another NHL player which prompted the installation of the AED in The Dome. I hoped this time the outcome would be different.

The AED finally arrived and luckily, the instructions were clear. The AED contained a large pad with wires showing anatomical markers to place a red line imprinted on the pad down the center of his chest. As soon as the machine was turned on, it began the process of evaluating the electrical activity of Ted’s heart and telling us when to perform CPR and when to stand clear for delivery of a shock. We completed a total of three rounds of CPR and electrical shocks before we started to notice that Ted was starting to move his legs. It was at this moment that an ambulance arrived and transported Ted to the local hospital.
Unfortunately, Ted’s medical care did not end with a short stay at the local hospital. As the afternoon progressed, it was clear that Ted’s heart was going to need some advanced care, not available in our rural community, which brings me to a large part of my reason for seeking your financial support of Ted & Evette. Ted recently received a $28,000 bill for the helicopter transport alone. Another $8,000 bill was received for the ambulance to our rural hospital. Can you believe it—$36,000 just to reach the level of care he needed? And none of it covered by his medical insurance.
If you are lucky enough to have had medical insurance for the last several years, you realize how much the financial burden has shifted to the insured. High deductible health plans with 30% out of pocket amounts are becoming the norm. Provider fees, hospitals fees, and transport fees, if covered, have numerous limitations and reimbursement requirements.
I am asking for your support to relieve some of the financial burden faced by Ted & Evette. Recovery from this medical event should be the top priority without the added stress caused by a large financial burden.

I know the goal of this GoFundMe challenge is very large. And maybe it is too much to ask. But, I have faith that the hockey community, in the beautiful Northwoods community members, and all of our families and friends will do what they can to support a brother in need.
I am happy to report that Ted’s recovery is going well. On June 12th, Ted was able to lace up his skates for a few, slow laps, around the ice. His doctors indicate that it will take up to a year to be 100% again and are amazed at his recovery given the extensive blockages he had in the arteries feeding his heart. It’s clear to all of us in the NHL that we witnessed a miracle on ice.
Take a look at Ted's first time back on the ice wearing number 13:
Fundraising team: NHL Pond Hockey (5)
Bryan Pearce
Organizer
Eagle River, WI
Ted Danielak
Beneficiary
Michael Queoff
Team member
Kelly Gustafson
Team member
Alan Queoff
Team member
STEVEN MICHLIG
Team member