BOSTON -- The Penguins were on the tarmac in San Jose about to take off Sunday morning when team president David Morehouse was taken off the jet and to a hospital.

It was determined Morehouse, 48, had a heart attack, the team said yesterday. He had a minor procedure and was resting in the San Jose hospital. He is expected to fully recover.

The San Jose Sharks medical staff assisted the Penguins, and Penguins staff and players were quick to praise Penguins trainer Chris Stewart, who recognized Morehouse's symptoms and moved to get him treatment before the jet took off on a cross-country trip.

"Scary stuff. Big time," team captain Sidney Crosby said of the situation. "[Stewart] was getting a lot of pats on the back. He was really smart to tell Dave to stay back and make sure he got checked out. We had a long flight.

"That was big. He might have saved his life. Quite possibly."

Morehouse, who is in his 40s, has been team president since April 2007. He joined the team in December 2004 as senior consultant on the new arena project. He has an extensive background in politics and has worked on four presidential campaigns.

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