According to several reports, NHL referee Chris Rooney sustained a facial injury from a high stick during Game 7 of the Stanley Cup playoffs between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Florida Panthers, resulting in a black eye. He is reportedly hoping to return to officiate in the playoffs, as the injury is not expected to have any permanent effects.
The incident occurred early in the second period on Sunday. Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola was attempting to move the puck along the boards when his stick accidentally struck Rooney`s face. The referee immediately fell to the ice, and players quickly alerted medical personnel as blood flowed from the injury.
Medical staff attended to Rooney on the ice for a period. When the veteran official was helped off the ice, holding a towel to his face, visible traces of blood remained on the ice surface and the boards near the location of the impact.
The TNT broadcast reported that Rooney managed to skate off the ice unassisted and received stitches for a laceration above his eye. Following Rooney`s departure, Garrett Rank served as the replacement referee for the rest of the contest.
Rinkside commentator Brian Boucher mentioned that Mikkola expressed surprise upon realizing his stick had struck Rooney high. After Rooney left the ice, the maintenance crew took several minutes to clean the blood from the surface before play recommenced.
