NHL Referee Mitch Dunning Taken Off Ice on Stretcher After Violent Collision in Avs-Flyers Game

Referee Suffers Injury After Collision With Flyers' Zack MacEwen

National Hockey League (NHL) referee Mitch Dunning was taken off the ice on a stretcher on Tuesday night after being involved in a violent collision with Philadelphia Flyers forward Zack MacEwen during a game against the Colorado Avalanche.

The incident occurred in the second period of the game when MacEwen attempted to deliver a hit on Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin. Dunning, who was positioned near the boards, was caught in the middle of the collision and was knocked to the ice.

Dunning Taken to Local Hospital for Evaluation

Dunning was immediately attended to by medical staff and was taken off the ice on a stretcher. He was transported to a local hospital for further evaluation.

The NHL released a statement saying that Dunning is conscious and alert and that his condition is being monitored.

MacEwen Not Penalized for Hit

MacEwen was not penalized for the hit, which was deemed to be a clean one by the referees.

However, the incident has sparked some debate about the safety of referees in the NHL.

Referees Face Increasing Risk of Injury

With the increasing speed and physicality of the game, referees are facing an increasing risk of injury.

In recent years, there have been several high-profile incidents of referees being injured on the ice.

NHL Taking Steps to Address Safety Concerns

The NHL has taken steps to address the safety concerns of referees, including introducing new rules and equipment.

However, some critics argue that more needs to be done to protect referees from injury.

Conclusion

The incident involving Mitch Dunning is a reminder of the dangers that referees face on the ice.

The NHL must continue to take steps to address the safety concerns of referees to ensure that they can continue to officiate games safely.