NHL Referee Bloodied After Getting Hit in Eye by Stick in Scary Incident

Longtime NHL referee Chris Rooney is “doing effectively” after being hit by an errant stick throughout Sunday night time’s playoff recreation between the Florida Panthers and the Toronto Maple Leafs, in keeping with the league.

NHL.com reported that Rooney, 49, “obtained medical consideration for a reduce above his eye and is doing effectively” after the incident simply 13 seconds into the second interval of Recreation 7 between the Panthers and the Maple Leafs.

The incident occurred within the nook of the boards when Rooney acquired caught in a tussle over the puck. Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola’s stick struck the referee within the face whereas he was bracing for a success by Maple Leafs ahead Mitch Marner. 

Rooney remained on the ice for a number of minutes as trainers from each the Maple Leafs and the Panthers rushed to assist the referee, whose face was bloodied, as had been the boards. The Toronto residence ice medical workers introduced out a stretcher at one level earlier than being waved off. Rooney then left the ice with the help of two trainers whereas holding a bloody towel to his face.

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Afterwards, Rooney reportedly acquired stitches above his eye to shut the reduce. He was dominated out for the remainder of the sport and alternative referee Garrett Rank took over for him, in keeping with the Associated Press.

In line with the TNT broadcast, Mikkola hadn’t realized his stick hit Rooney within the face till an on-ice reporter requested him how he felt concerning the state of affairs afterwards because the referee was receiving medical consideration.

Rooney, a married father of two, is among the longest tenured officers in hockey, having first refereed his NHL recreation in 2000, in keeping with the NHL Officials Association. The Boston native has officiated almost 1,500 NHL video games in his profession, together with 170 playoff video games.

“Scary incident,” longtime TSN hockey reporter Pierre LeBrun wrote on social media, noting that Rooney “has a black eye however fortunately no eye harm” and “hopes to be again working later this spherical.”

“Excellent news it wasn’t worse,” LeBrun added.