PHILADELPHIA – Referee Mitch Dunning was taken off the ice on a stretcher after a collision with a player during the first period of Monday night’s game between the Philadelphia Flyers and Colorado Avalanche at the Wells Fargo Center.
Dunning backed up a bit, collided with Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson near the blue line of Colorado’s offensive zone and quickly fell back to the ice with just over six minutes left in the game. Flyers coach Tommy Alva immediately attended to Dunning, who remained motionless for several minutes before he was finally loaded onto a stretcher, causing a delay of approximately eight minutes.
Dunning, who was taken to the hospital as a precaution, is fully communicative and able to move all of his limbs after further testing, according to NHL X Public Relations Officer.
Referee Mitch Dunning is currently on the ice after a collision with Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson in Philadelphia. I hope it’s okay
– NastyKnuckles (@NastyKnuckles) November 19, 2024
Both head coaches commented after the game on the Avalanche’s terrifying 3-2 victory.
“Manson confronted him,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. “He turned around and faced him. One fell off, but I hear it’s working well, so that’s a positive sign.
Flyers head coach John Tortorella said: “We were worried he was going to have problems, he didn’t feel anything in his arm; that’s what they told me. But I think it’s okay.”
A former OHL defenseman, Dunning played his first NHL game in 2019 and has been a full-time referee since 2022.
1. Firstly, tell us about the incident that occurred during the game between Philadelphia Flyers and Colorado Avalanche on Monday night. How did it happen?
2. Referee Mitch Dunning was taken off the ice on a stretcher, causing a delay of approximately 8 minutes. Can you explain what happened and how severe the injury was?
3. After initial testing at the hospital, it was confirmed that Dunning is fully communicative and able to move all of his limbs. How did this news impact the team and how are they handling the situation?
4. Both head coaches commented after the game on the Avalanche’s victory and the incident. Can you please share their comments? How do you think they felt about the situation?
5. As a professional, how do you think incidents like these can be avoided in the future? Are there any measures that can be taken to improve the safety of players and referees in hockey games?
6. Referee Mitch Dunning is a former OHL defenseman and has been a full-time referee since 2022. How difficult is it to transition from being a player to a referee? What challenges does he face in his role as a referee in the NHL?
7. Lastly, what message do you want to give to fans of world-today-news.com about the importance of sports officials in maintaining fair play and integrity in sports games?
8. As a website dedicated to news, we understand that incidents like these can cause concern among readers. How do you plan to address these concerns and keep them informed about the wellbeing of Dunning and the outcome of the incident?
