National Hockey League referee Mitch Dunning was stretchered off and taken to hospital after a horror fall on the ice.

Dunning was slammed into by Colorado Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson during Monday night’s NHL game in Philadelphia against the Flyers. Manson skated along with the play on the other side of the rink before the Avalanche star skated backwards into his path.

The two came together in a heavy impact that sent the unknowing referee falling to the ice in a pile while Manson was left holding his head.

Dunning struck the ice with force and lay motionless for several minutes. The referee appeared to move his feet and his right hand when Manson went to talk to him before Flyers trainers tended to him on the ice.

The 32-year-old referee was later stretchered off to a standing ovation from fans and taken to hospital for precautionary reasons. It was revealed that Dunning was fully communicative and could move all his extremities with all neurological signs normal as well.

Dunning’s injury caused a delay at the Wells Fargo Center for several minutes while he was treated by medical staff and trainers. When the action got back underway, the game continued with one referee and two linespersons.

Mitch Dunning

Dunning suffered a heavy fall after colliding with Josh Manson

Colorado were able to return to winning form with Cale Makar scoring twice as the Avalanche won 3-2. The Avalanche saw their three-game winning streak ended by the Washington Capitals last time out but were able to inflict the Flyers’ first defeat in four games.

After the win, Makar spoke about the incident involving Dunning and sent his best wishes to the official. “I just got back to the bench and next thing I know I looked out and saw Mans was kind of holding his face and the ref was on the ground,” he said.

“You never want to see that happen, especially on an accident like that. Very tough. Hopefully he’s OK.”

Dunning is a former professional hockey defenseman who played parts of three seasons in the Ontario Hockey League. He later moved into officiating and was promoted to full-time NHL status in 2022 and has officiated 232 games as a referee in that time.