PHILADELPHIA -- Referee Mitch Dunning was removed from the ice on a stretcher after a collision with defenseman Josh Manson of the Colorado Avalanche during the first period of their 3-2 win against the Philadelphia Flyers at Wells Fargo Center on Monday.
Dunning was taken to a hospital for precautionary reasons. All neurological signs are normal, he is fully communicative and can move all his extremities.
“I didn't even see it,” Flyers coach John Tortorella said after the game. “But I believe the report I got on my desk after the game, I think all extremities ... we were concerned that he was struggling with his arms, he didn't have any feeling in his arms. That's what was told to me. But I think he's OK.”
Dunning was positioned in the neutral zone when Manson hit him while trying to join the play in the Philadelphia zone. Play was stopped with 13:37 remaining as medical officials tended to Dunning.
Players from both teams checked on the official as he was taken from the ice through the Zamboni tunnel.
The game continued with one referee and two linesmen.
“I hope he's OK,” Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar said. “I actually haven't even seen it yet. I haven't watched it. I just got back to the bench, and then next thing I looked out and I saw ‘Mans’ was kind of holding his face, and then the ref is on the ground. I assumed a collision, but I haven't seen it yet. So hopefully he's all right.
“You never want to see that happen, especially on an accident like that. Very tough. So yeah, hopefully he's OK.”
Dunning, 32, is in his seventh season as an NHL referee, having made his debut March 28, 2019.
He is a veteran of junior hockey in Canada, where he played two seasons as a defenseman in the Ontario Hockey League, for Sarnia (2008-09) and Windsor (2009-10).
