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Updated at 9:03 a.m., Wednesday, October 3, 2007

Preps: Missouri hockey player collapses, dies

Associated Press

COTTLEVILLE, Mo. — A suburban St. Louis high school hockey player collapsed on the ice during practice and died later at a hospital.

Adam Litteken, 16, and his Francis Howell Central teammates were warming up for practice Tuesday night at the Rec-Plex rink in St. Charles County when he collapsed, school officials said Wednesday.

Paramedics treated Litteken at the scene and took him to Barnes-St. Peters Hospital, where he was pronounced dead about an hour after falling to the ice.

The cause of death has not been determined. Family spokesman Michael Benson said the county medical examiner is investigating.

Marty Limpert of the St. Charles County Ambulance District said a doctor at the rink tried to revive the boy. When paramedics arrived, he had no pulse and wasn't breathing.

Teammates and coaches said the player had not been involved in any contact with a teammate or the puck, Limpert said.

Francis Howell Central officials addressed the school's 2,200 students Wednesday, informing them of the death. Extra counselors were brought in to help students, faculty and staff deal with their grief.

Hockey is a club sport in the St. Louis area. Teams play under school names but are responsible for their own funding, scheduling and other duties.