Referee Chris Rooney (5) is tended to as he is escorted off the ice after receiving an injury from being clipped by a player during the first period of Game 7 of a second-round NHL hockey playoff series between the Florida Panthers and the Toronto Maple Leafs in Toronto, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)AP
A scary scene unfolded at Scotiabank Arena on Sunday night.
Just 13 seconds into the second period of Game 7 between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Florida Panthers, a Niko Mikkola high stick caught official Chris Rooney in the face near his eye.
Rooney, who hails from Boston, remained down on the ice and was tended to by trainers for several minutes. There was blood on the boards.
A stretcher came on to the ice, but was called off. Rooney, who had a towel to his face to control the bleeding, was seen talking to the trainers. He eventually went to the dressing room.
Garrett Rank replaced Rooney as the alternate referee.
In January, Rooney was celebrated for officiating 1,500 NHL games. He’s the only American to reach the milestone. His 1,500th game came on Jan. 7 when he officiated the game between his hometown Boston Bruins and the Edmonton Oilers at TD Garden.
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