Chatham Maroons alum and NHL ref Mitch Dunning injured during ...
It appears former Chatham Maroons defenceman Mitch Dunning has escaped serious injury.
Published Nov 19, 2024 • Last updated 1 hour ago • 2 minute read
It appears former Chatham Maroons defenceman Mitch Dunning has escaped serious injury.
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The 32-year-old Dunning, who is now an NHL referee, had to be carried off the ice on a stretcher Monday after an on-ice collision with a player.
Dunning was injured during the first period of the game between the Colorado Avalanche and Philadelphia Flyers in Philadelphia.
As Colorado defenceman Josh Manson moved toward the right boards in the offensive zone, he clipped Dunning, who immediately tumbled to the ice in obvious pain.
After remaining down for several minutes while being attended to by team medical personnel, Dunning had to be carried off on a stretcher and was taken to a Philadelphia hospital.
Manson, who was evaluated by the Avalanche training staff, checked in on Dunning immediately after the hit and shared a few words with him after he was removed from the ice and taken to hospital.
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While on the ice, Dunning appeared to be able to move his hands and feet.
The NHL public relations department, through its social media account, shared an update on Dunning’s condition following the game indicating he was communicating with hospital staff and able to move all extremities.
“Referee Mitch Dunning has been taken to hospital for precautionary reasons following a collision in the Avalanche/Flyers game,” the statement release said. “All neurological signs are normal, he is fully communicative and can move all his extremities.”
Dunning, a Tecumseh native, was a fourth-round pick by the Sarnia Sting in the 2008 Ontario Hockey League draft before moving on the Windsor Spitfires in 2009-10 where he won a Memorial Cup title. He also played 42 regular season and playoff games with the Maroons in 2009-10.
A knee injury would cost Dunning his entire 2010-11 season and end his OHL career. He eventually turned to officiating.
In 2016, Dunning was hired as a linesman by the OHL and spent two seasons in the league. He did lines in the ECHL and the American Hockey League before transitioning to a referee in the AHL in 2017-18.
Dunning made his NHL refereeing debut in 2019 and was promoted to full-time referee status in 2022.
While it is expected that Dunning will make a full recovery, no timetable has been given for his return to the ice.
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