TORONTO – Referee Chris Rooney, recognized as one of the best officials in the NHL, suffered an injury and had to leave Game 7 of the playoff matchup between the Florida Panthers and the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday night.
The incident occurred 13 seconds into the second period, when Florida’s Niko Mikkola, in the play for the puck, accidentally hit Rooney in the face with his stick.
The game was stopped for several minutes and a stretcher was brought onto the ice, but Rooney was able to skate off with assistance and a towel covering much of his face as he was taken to the locker room for evaluation and treatment.
The NHL has alternate officials in playoff games, and Garrett Rank took on the role of one of the two referees following Rooney’s injury, joining the team that also included referee Jean Hebert and linesmen Devin Berg and Jonny Murray.
