NHL referee Mitch Dunning appears to be on the mend.
After a violent collision with Josh Manson during Monday's game during the Colorado Avalanche and Philadelphia Flyers saw Dunning stretchered off the ice, the Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli reported Tuesday that the referee is "sore but otherwise fine" and is back home resting.
Dunning collided with Colorado defenceman Manson early in the first period. The referee went down in a heap and lay prone on the ice for several minutes. Dunning appeared to be moving his feet and moved his right hand when Manson went to talk to him as the stretcher was being led off the ice.
Strapped onto a spinal board, his head immobile, Dunning was taken to a hospital, where all neurological signs were found to be normal.
The game at the Wells Fargo Center was delayed for several minutes while trainers and medical staff tended to Dunning.
“I just got back to the bench, and next thing I know, I looked out and saw Mans was kind of holding his face and the ref was on the ground,” said Colorado defenseman Cale Makar. “You never want to see that happen, especially on an accident like that. Very tough. Hopefully he's OK.”
Dunning is a former professional defenceman who played parts of three seasons in the OHL. He later shifted into officiating and was promoted to full-time NHL status in 2022.
— With files from the Associated Press
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