Scary Scene in Philadelphia as NHL Referee Mitch Dunning Stretchered Off and Hospitalized
Referee Mitch Dunning was involved in a dangerous collision with Colorado Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson, was stretchered off and has been hospitalized.
Early in the first period of Monday night's game between the Colorado Avalanche and Philadelphia Flyers, a 32-year-old official, Mitch Dunning, and Avs defenseman Josh Manson collided in the neutral zone awkwardly.
Dunning was skating backwards near the blueline while Manson was coming off the bench to secure the zone at the blueline. Manson collided with the back of Dunning and clipped skates sending Dunning backwards to the ice. Play was stopped immediately and Dunning remained on the ice while being tended to by trainers. Unfortunately, Denning had to be stretchered off, but thankfully, reports indicate he had movement in his extremities.
NHL released a brief statement on 'X' saying that Dunning was taken to a local hospital for precautionary reasons following the collision but that all neurological signs were normal and he was communicating.
As Dunning was being taken off the ice, Manson skated over to him to give him a tap and apologize for the accidental collision. The game was delayed for several minutes while Dunning was tended to, but has since resumed.
Dunning was a fourth round pick by the Sarnia Sting in the 2008 OHL draft and played parts of three seasons in the OHL with the Sarnia Sting and Windsor Spitfires before making the jump to officiating and working his way up from the OHL to the ECHL, AHL and eventually making his NHL debut during the 2022 NHL season.
All the best to Dunning and we'll be hoping for a speedy recovery.
