NHL Update on Referee Mitch Dunning, Injured in Flyers vs. Avalanche

Monday’s Philadelphia Flyers game against the Colorado Avalanche got off to a scary start, as NHL referee Mitch Dunning was injured in an accidental collision with Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson.

Dunning, 32, was stretchered off after spending approximately six minutes down on the ice in a heap with limited to no movement. Manson skated over to Dunning, presumably to apologize or check on him, as he was taken off the ice towards an ambulance.

The NHL later announced that Dunning was taken to a nearby hospital as a precaution, had full movement in all of his extremities, was fully communicative, and presented no signs of neurological abnormalities.

NHL PR released the following statement roughly 45 minutes after incident:

“Referee Mitch Dunning has been taken to hospital for precautionary reasons following a collision in the Avalanche/Flyers game. All neurological signs are normal, he is fully communicative and can move all his extremities.”

Flyers head coach John Tortorella said after the game that he did not even see the incident with Dunning and Manson take place.

“I didn’t even see it. I didn’t even see it,” Tortorella said. “We were concerned that. . . he didn’t have any feeling in his arms. That’s what was told to me. But I think he’s okay.”

Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar, like Tortorella, didn’t see the collision between Dunning and Manson. The unfortunate accident happened that quickly on what was otherwise a routine play in a long game.

“I actually haven’t even seen it yet. I haven’t watched it,” Makar said. “I assumed a collision, but I haven’t seen it yet. So, hopefully, he’s alright. You never want to see that happen, especially on an accident like that.”

Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar, who picked up his 400th total win at the NHL level against the Flyers on Monday night, shared his point of view.

“Manson ran into him,” Bednar said. “He kind of pivoted backwards in the middle, (Manson) ran into him, took a tumble. But I heard he’s doing okay.”

Dunning started refereeing in the NHL in March 2019 and was promoted to full-time in 2022. His first NHL game as a referee was Ottawa Senators vs. Florida Panthers on March 28, 2019.