Former Spitfire and NHL ref Dunning appears to avoid serious injury ...
Author of the article:
Jim Parker • Windsor Star
Published Nov 19, 2024 • Last updated 4 hours ago • 2 minute read
It appears Tecumseh native Mitch Dunning has escaped serious injury.
A former Windsor Spitfires’ defenceman, the 32-year-old Dunning, who is now an NHL referee, had to be stretchered off the ice on Monday after an on-ice collision with a player.
Dunning was injured during the first period of Monday’s game between the Colorado Avalanche and Philadelphia Flyers in Philadelphia.
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As Colorado defenceman Josh Manson moved towards 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 stretchered off the ice and was transported to a local 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.
While on the ice, Dunning appeared to be able to move his hands and feet.
NHL Public Relations, via 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.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – NOVEMBER 18: Referee Mitch Dunning #20 is taken off the ice in a stretcher after an injury in the first period of the game between the Colorado Avalanche and Philadelphia Flyers at the Wells Fargo Center on November 18, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Photo by Mitchell Leff /Getty Images“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, who is a Sun County Panthers minor hockey product, was a fourth-round pick by the Sarnia Sting in the 2008 Ontario Hockey League Draft before moving on the Spitfires in 2009-10 where he won a Memorial Cup title.
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However, a knee injury would cost Dunning his entire 2010-11 season and end his OHL career. He would eventually turn to officiating.
In 2016, Dunning was hired as a linesman by the Ontario Hockey League 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 in Ottawa in a game between the Senators and Florida Panthers, who were coached by Bob Boughner at the time. Boughner was Dunning’s head coach with the Spitfires. The NHL promoted Dunning 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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