MONTREAL – Quebec senator and former NHL coach Jacques Demers has suffered a stroke.
A spokeswoman with his senate office says Demers is in hospital.
The 71-year-old was appointed to the Senate in 2009 by then-prime minister Stephen Harper.
He quit the Conservative caucus last December to sit as an independent.
At the time, he had said he was uncomfortable with some of the machinations involved in the Senate expenses scandal and chafed at having to vote the Conservative party line all the time.
Demers led the Montreal Canadiens to a Stanley Cup victory in 1993. He has also coached the Quebec Nordiques, the Detroit Red Wings and the St. Louis Blues.
A number of public figures expressed their well-wishes for Demers as news of his stroke spread Thursday, with the prime minister among them.
“Sending my best wishes to Senator Jacques Demers for a full recovery. Get well soon,” Justin Trudeau tweeted.