Senator and former Montreal Canadiens coach Jacques Demers was hospitalized Saturday afternoon after suffering a second stroke in six months, but according to his employer the former Habs benchboss is conscious and in stable condition.
Late Saturday, French sports network RDS confirmed Demers was hospitalized following a stroke, but was now awake and in stable condition. RDS is owned by Bell Media, the parent company of CJAD 800.
Demers had suffered a stroke in April but his health seemed to have improved recently.
He was at the Canadiens' home opener on Tuesday night, smiling in a wheelchair while handing a torch to Captain Max Pacioretty to close out a pre-game ceremony.
Demers led the Canadiens to their last Stanley Cup in 1993.
He also coached the Quebec Nordiques, the Detroit Red Wings and the St. Louis Blues.
Demers was appointed to the Senate in 2009 by Prime Minister Stephen Harper, but later left the Conservative caucus last December to sit as an Independent.
—with files from Andrew Brennan and Luciano Pipia