OT: College Hockey Ref Dies Following Last Week's Pregame Accident

Submitted by stephenrjking on
It doesn't really affect us, but those who regularly attend hockey games know that just as with players you develop a relationship with the refs you watch. This ref, apparently the first Native American to ref at his level, was a regular in the WCHA and the NCHC. He tripped on a rut and hit his head before a WCHA tournament game last week. Awful. http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2016/03/25_wcha_ref_mousseaux_suc…
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Wolverine Devotee

March 25th, 2016 at 9:29 PM ^

RIP

Refs are human just like the rest of us. Sometimes I think that gets lost during the heat of a game when we scream and curse them out. I sure wouldn't want that pressure on me of potentially making a mistake. Respect.

 

Joined: 06/29/2009

MGoPoints: 31528

goblueram

March 25th, 2016 at 9:37 PM ^

It's terrible. Will they change the rules so they need to have helmets on always? I mean it's still a freak accident. I've played thousands of hours of hockey on the pond and never hit my head. Just tragic.

Joined: 08/18/2009

MGoPoints: 11701

Blazefire

March 25th, 2016 at 9:43 PM ^

I mean, first of all, what are the odds that a ref is going to trip that hard over a rut in the ice? Then the odds that, upon tripping, he'll hit his head? Finally, the odds that hitting his head will result in a lethal coma and not a headache?

I have no balance. I've fallen on the ice and snow dozens of times. Never worse than kinda messing up my hip for a couple of months.

Joined: 04/17/2009

MGoPoints: 25038

Sac Fly

March 25th, 2016 at 10:45 PM ^

It happens.

I was at a high school game a few years ago. The ref who was behind the play pulled a hamstring, fell backwards and hit his head on the ledge. He was knocked out cold while the game continued on the other end because no one saw it.

 

Joined: 04/03/2010

MGoPoints: 5981

Jayvandy23

March 25th, 2016 at 9:52 PM ^

I was in attendance at the tournament.  It was one of the scariest things I have ever seen.  I played hockey, and could tell that the ice wasn't in the greatest shape.  The whole place went silent until he was taken out on a stretcher.  The following night, they had a moment of silence in his honor.  Prayers to his family.

Joined: 11/06/2008

MGoPoints: 10953

kdhoffma

March 26th, 2016 at 4:19 AM ^

I've seen things like this happen too many times. There was a guy a few years ago that died after hitting his head on the ice trying to help push a broken down Zamboni off. A few years ago, we had a local ref snap his leg just above the ankle when he hit a rut skating backwards during play. USA hockey now mandates everyone that steps on the ice wear a helmet... no more coaches in baseball caps. Just such a freak and sad accident.

Joined: 07/10/2008

MGoPoints: 4983