Stanley Cup champion performs Heimlich maneuver on choking NHL employee in press box: report

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An on-ice hero became a real-life hero earlier this month by saving the life of an NHL employee.

Tony Hrkac, now a scout for the Tampa Bay Lightning, was in the press box for a Los Angeles Kings-Detroit Red Wings game on Jan. 4 when, suddenly, a dire situation occurred.

An employee of the league started turning "purplish," TMZ Sports said, after choking on a piece of a pretzel.

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Tony Hrkac, #18 of the St. Louis Blues, skates against the Toronto Maple Leafs during NHL game action on March 9, 1989 at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto. St. Louis defeated Toronto 4-1. (Graig Abel/Getty Images)

Hrkac then came to the rescue by performing the Heimlich maneuver and getting the food out.

The employee, TMZ Sports says, wants to stay anonymous.

Hrkac played 12 seasons in the NHL for the Blues, Quebec Nordiques (now the Colorado Avalanche), Sharks, Blackhawks, Stars, Oilers, Islanders, Ducks and Atlanta Thrashers (now the Winnipeg Jets), winning the 1999 Stanley Cup with Dallas.

Tony Hrkac, #28 of the Quebec Nordiques, skates against the Toronto Maple Leafs during NHL game action on Jan. 3, 1989 at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto. Toronto defeated Quebec 5-4. (Graig Abel/Getty Images)

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Hrkac retired after the 2004-05 season but returned in 2009 to play parts of two AHL seasons.

Hrkac starred at the University of North Dakota in the 1980s, winning a national championship in 1987 and being named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player. He also was named the top hockey player in Division I hockey that season. 

Center Tony Hrkac,