NHL Referee Taken to Hospital After On-Ice Collision

Referee Tim Peel was injured during a game between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday night.

Peel was hit by Avalanche forward Nazem Kadri in the second period of the game and was taken off the ice on a stretcher. He was taken to a local hospital and is being evaluated for a concussion.

Kadri was not penalized on the play, but the NHL is reviewing the incident.

The NHL has a concussion protocol in place that requires players to be evaluated by a doctor if they show any signs of a concussion. Peel is expected to be out for at least the next few games.

This is the second time in less than a month that an NHL referee has been injured on the ice. In December, referee Chris Rooney was injured in a game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Boston Bruins.

The NHL has been criticized for its handling of concussions in the past. In 2011, former NHL player Derek Boogaard died from a drug overdose that was caused by his history of concussions.

The NHL has since made changes to its concussion protocol, but some critics say that the league is still not doing enough to protect its players from head injuries.