Endorsement work

In 2003, Fischer appeared with fellow NHL defenseman Chris Pronger in a television commercial for Dodge Ram trucks. The commercial featured a black Ram truck running along a track, which then smashes into a wall. Fischer and Pronger, along with two other unnamed players, exit the truck in full hockey gear. Pronger then intones "I've been hit harder," and Fischer answers "Me too." The commercial was played during the 2003 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs. Neither defenseman were playing at the time as both were recovering from torn anterior cruciate ligament injuries when the commercial was filmed.

Near-death experience

During a game on November 21, 2005, against the Nashville Predators, Fischer collapsed on the bench after going into cardiac arrest. After being unconscious for six minutes, Fischer was resuscitated by CPR and by an automated external defibrillator by Dr. Tony Colucci, and was taken to Detroit Receiving Hospital. The hockey game was postponed due to Fischer's injury, and was made up on January 23, 2006. This marked the first time in NHL history a game had been postponed due to injury. The makeup game was played for the full 60 minutes, though the Predators were allowed to maintain their 1-0 lead from the original game. Nashville ultimately won by a score of 3-2.

Fischer was released from the hospital on November 23, 2005. Although the exact cause of Fischer's collapse remained unknown, team physician Tony Colucci indicated that Fischer's heart may have experienced either ventricular tachycardia, a type of racing heartbeat, or ventricular fibrillation, a heart fluttering. Doctors ordered Fischer to avoid all physical activity for four to six weeks, and no prognosis was made on whether he would be able to continue his hockey career. Fischer continued to suffer heart trouble after the in-game incident. On November 28, Fischer suffered a "brief, abnormal cardiac rhythm", while at his home in Detroit. He was released from the hospital two days later.

Fischer's future as a hockey player remained in question over a year after his collapse. By the time his contract expired at the end of the 2006-07 season, it was obvious he would never be medically cleared to play again, and he was forced to retire. General manager Ken Holland wanted to keep Fischer in the organization, and offered him a job as director of player development. Fischer had long liked working with young players and accepted.

Return to the Ice

Fischer returned to the ice for the Detroit Red Wings in the first of two Alumni Showdown games at Comerica Park as part of the 2013 Hockeytown Winter Festival on December 31, 2013, scoring the first goal of the game.

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1997-98	Hull Olympiques	QMJHL		70	3	19	22	112		11	1	4	5	16
1998-99	Hull Olympiques	QMJHL		65	22	56	78	141		23	6	17	23	44
1999-00	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		52	0	8	8	45		—	—	—	—	—
1999-00	Cincinnati Mighty Ducks	AHL		7	0	2	2	10		—	—	—	—	—
2000-01	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		55	1	8	9	59		5	0	0	0	9
2000-01	Cincinnati Mighty Ducks	AHL		18	2	6	8	22		—	—	—	—	—
2001-02	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		80	2	8	10	67		22	3	3	6	30
2002-03	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		15	1	5	6	16		—	—	—	—	—
2003-04	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		81	4	15	19	75		11	1	0	1	16
2004-05	HC Bílí Tygři Liberec	Czech		27	6	12	18	52		11	1	4	5	22
2005-06	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		22	3	5	8	33		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				305	11	49	60	295		38	4	3	7	55

[ Source: Wikipedia ]