40 Hockey Players Rushed To Cody Hospital After Carbon Monoxide Leak

Riley Arena in Cody closed indefinitely on Saturday night after a carbon monoxide leak forced approximately 40 hockey players to seek medical attention.

Emergency dispatchers received the first call for an ambulance at 9:37 p.m., reporting multiple juveniles affected by the incident. A second ambulance was requested one minute later, followed by a third by 9:53 p.m. At 9:54 p.m., dispatchers called for mutual aid to cover Cody Hospital, noting that all local units were deployed to the arena.

Park County Fire Protection District No. 2 Chief H.R. Coe stated that firefighters arrived to find spectators had already departed and the hockey teams were outside. The building manager directed crews to the utility room, where a gas detector confirmed the presence of carbon monoxide. Coe noted that locating the specific source of the leak was difficult due to the size of the facility. Firefighters opened the large garage doors to ventilate the space and shut off the natural gas supply to prevent further accumulation.

The incident occurred during a North American 3 Hockey League game between the Yellowstone Quake and the Butte Irish. The Butte Irish won the match 4-2. Team owner Bill LaVelle was not present but received a call from an assistant coach reporting that six players were experiencing headaches and shortness of breath. LaVelle instructed staff to move the players outside and contact emergency services. He said most players were doing well on Monday, though some were still showing symptoms and receiving treatment.

Riley Arena, which opened in January 2001, is owned by the nonprofit Park County Arena Board. General Manager Ed Bednarz confirmed the closure in a public statement on Sunday. He said the facility would not resume normal operations until the source of the leak was identified and repairs were completed. Bednarz thanked emergency responders and apologized for the disruption.

Carbon monoxide is an odorless gas that can accumulate when fuel-burning equipment malfunctions. Coe explained that cold air in winter can interfere with the venting of combustion gases, allowing the poison to enter occupied spaces. He stated that while the department handles such calls regularly in residential homes, incidents in large arenas are less common. Historically, carbon monoxide poisoning has claimed an average of four lives annually in Wyoming.

Chief Coe described the building as safe and built to code, emphasizing that the incident did not overshadow the arena's long history. He advised residents to ensure their carbon monoxide detectors are installed and working. Without an alarm, individuals might mistake exposure symptoms for an ordinary headache. The source of the leak remained undetermined when Coe spoke to reporters.