Jiri Fischer, the Detroit Red Wings' director of player development, is in town evaluating Erie Otters center Zack Torquato, the NHL club's sixth-round pick in the 2007 draft. The former Red Wings' defenseman, who arrived Monday night, skated with veterans in Tuesday's morning skate at Tullio Arena and was on the ice for the team's afternoon practice.
"It's nice of him to come down (and) take time out of his day to come help," Torquato said before practice. "It was pretty cool of him to come."
Fischer, 28, played six NHL seasons on defense with the Red Wings from 1999-2006, totaling 11 goals, 60 points and 295 penalty minutes in 305 games. Fischer, the 25th overall pick in the 1998 draft, won a Stanley Cup championship in 2002.
But on Nov. 21, 2005, his career was halted - and his life nearly ended - when Fischer reportedly suffered cardiac arrest on the Red Wings' bench during a game at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. According to published reports, the team's doctor used a defibrillator to shock Fischer's heart back to life.
These days, he evaluates the progress of Red Wings' draft picks. "He's an easy guy to get comfortable with," Torquato said. "He's always there to help people. As long as you're working, he's happy. I get along with him pretty well and I've talked to him quite a bit this year."

In other Otters' news, defenseman/left wing Brian Shaw, who missed Saturday's win against Kitchener because he was ill, expects to play Wednesday against London.
"It's kind of going around the team right now. I'm the lucky guy that picked it up," said Shaw, who practiced Tuesday despite still having a sore throat.

The Otters also will have rookie forward Greg McKegg in the lineup, three days after capturing gold at the 2009 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Port Alberni, British Columbia.
"It was just a lot of fun to be a part of," McKegg said. "Winning the gold medal was just a bonus." He recalled Sunday's title game against Team Pacific, the host team. "(The fans) were kind of all over us," he said. "It was pretty jam-packed in that arena."
Wearing the Team Ontario jersey felt different, he said. "But it's the same pride if it's the Otters," he said. "Makes you want to work that much harder."

– Victor Fernandes