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Time of India
4 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
NHL announces Stanley Cup Final referees and linesmen team after injury scare recovery
The National Hockey League has finalized its officiating crew for the Stanley Cup Final and four referees have been selected to oversee the games. The referees named are Francis Charron, Jean Hebert, Wes McCauley, and Chris Rooney. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Each of these officials has earned this spot through consistent performance over the season and in the playoff rounds. Their selection marks a continued commitment from the NHL to field experienced and reliable referees for hockey's biggest stage. McCauley leads the group with 11 previous Stanley Cup Finals appearances, followed by Rooney. He has officiated in 8. Charron and Hebert bring with them a solid presence. With each having officiated in 3 Stanley Cup Finals, while not as seasoned as McCauley or Rooney. Their inclusion signals the league's trust in their judgment and consistency. Chris Rooney returns after eye injury in playoffs Among the four, Chris Rooney's return holds special weight. He suffered a facial injury near his eye during Game 7 of the second-round clash between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers. The impact looked serious at first, raising concerns about his availability for the rest of the postseason, and fortunately, the injury missed his eye. He recovered quickly enough to rejoin officiating duties. Linesmen lineup confirmed for the championship series NHL referee Jean Hebert (15) (Credit: Getty Image) Alongside the referees, the NHL also announced the four linesmen for the Final, and the selected group includes Devin Berg, Scott Cherrey, Ryan Gibbons, and Trent Knorr, all these officials will handle offside calls, faceoffs. And help manage player interactions throughout the series. Like the referees, they have all worked their way up through years of regular season and playoff assignments. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Read more: With all officiating positions now confirmed, the NHL has ensured a well-balanced team of officials for the Stanley Cup Final. The pairing of seasoned referees with rising talents. This helps maintain the standard of fairness and consistency that fans and players. Expect during the championship, as the puck drops on Game 1. Both teams and supporters can trust. And the games will be guided by capable and experienced hands.
Boston Globe
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
Chris Rooney, South Boston-born NHL ref, avoids major injury after taking stick to face
After several minutes of stoppage time, Rooney — with a towel covering his bloody face — eventually made his way off the ice under his own power and was brought to the locker room for further evaluation and treatment. TNT's broadcast noted that Rooney received stitches right after leaving the ice. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Referee Chris Rooney gets a stick up high and has left the game, as Garrett Rank replaces him — Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) Advertisement Rooney did not return to Sunday's game, which ended with Brad Marchand and the Florida Panthers Despite the concerns of Rooney suffering a serious eye injury, the longtime ref seems to have dodged a bullet. 'Update on veteran ref Chris Rooney who left Game 7 last night in Toronto after taking a stick on a follow through. Scary incident,' Advertisement Rooney — who reffed his first NHL game in 2000 — Conor Ryan can be reached at
UPI
20-05-2025
- Sport
- UPI
NHL referee Chris Rooney, hit in the face with a stick, expects to return to playoffs
NHL referee Chris Rooney sustained a cut above his right eye after being hit with a stick during the series finale between the Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday in Toronto. File Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI | License Photo May 20 (UPI) -- Referee Chris Rooney, who was hit in the face with a hockey stick during the Florida Panthers-Toronto Maple Leafs series, is doing well and hopes to return to work the NHL playoffs, a league source told UPI on Tuesday. The NHL provided an initial update on the veteran official, who was cut above his right eye when Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola accidentally grazed him with his stick blade in Game 7 on Sunday in Toronto. The league said he received stitches and was "doing well." Rooney sustained a black eye, but no permanent damage. The veteran official, who lost a significant amount of blood onto the ice and along the boards, received immediate medical attention before leaving Sunday's game. He was replaced by alternate referee Garrett Rank. Rooney was hired under a minor league referee contract with the NHL in 1999. He was promoted to a full-time NHL referee in 2002. He has worked on the ice for more than 170 playoff games and appeared at the Stanley Cup Final seven times. The Carolina Hurricanes will host the Florida Panthers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals at 8 p.m. EDT Tuesday in Raleigh, N.C. The Dallas Stars will host the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals at 8 p.m. Wednesday in Dallas.
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
How a high stick sparked NHL's deeper look into referee safety
Referee Chris Rooney is helped off the ice after being injured (Source: Getty Image) Game 7 between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers turned unexpectedly when referee Chris Rooney took a high stick to the face. The contact came during a routine play, but the result was anything but. Rooney dropped to the ice, bleeding and in pain. It brought the action to a stop, highlighting just how vulnerable NHL officials can be in split-second collisions. He was treated immediately on the ice by both teams' trainers. With Rooney unable to continue, backup referee Garrett Rank stepped in. Though the Panthers won 6-1 and advanced to the Eastern Conference Final, the conversation quickly turned away from the scoreboard. Veteran referee faces sudden on-ice risk Referee Chris Rooney Injured by Niko Mikkola's Stick?🏒Helped Off Ice During Panthers vs Maple Leafs Chris Rooney, a seasoned NHL referee with decades of experience, has officiated some of the league's biggest moments. Yet no amount of experience can prevent accidental contact in such a high-speed sport. This injury, while not career-threatening, underscored a reality often overlooked in the fast pace of playoff hockey. Focus shifts to protection for officials Referee Chris Rooney is helped off the ice after being injured (Source: Getty Image) The incident has sparked renewed interest in the protective measures available for referees. While players wear full gear, referees only have partial protection. Eye injuries in particular, are difficult to avoid without full-face shields; something not currently standard in NHL officiating. Technology could also play a role. High-speed cameras, real-time incident tracking, and smarter uniform materials may help reduce risks. But until then, officials continue to face many of the same dangers as players, with fewer tools for defense. As Rooney recovers and eyes a return to playoff duty, the NHL has a clear opportunity to reassess its stance on referee safety. Game stoppages due to injuries are rare but impactful. Each one becomes a case study in prevention and response. Read more: Pete DeBoer's evolving playoff strategy defines Dallas Stars' rise Chris Rooney's injury was a brief moment in a long playoff run. But it might lead to a deeper shift in how the NHL treats the officials who keep the game fair and flowing. Get IPL 2025 match schedules , squads , points table , and live scores for CSK , MI , RCB , KKR , SRH , LSG , DC , GT , PBKS , and RR . Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NHL referee Chris Rooney OK after taking stick to the face in Panthers' Game 7 win over Maple Leafs
NHL referee Chris Rooney is OK after leaving the Florida Panthers' Game 7 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday night with a scary looking eye injury. Rooney took an inadvertent stick to the face just a few seconds into the second period of the Panthers' 6-1 win at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on Sunday. The stick, which belonged to Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola, grazed Rooney's face and nearly knocked his helmet off completely. Rooney went down and immediately reached for his face and his right eye, which was gushing blood. He was eventually walked off the ice with some assistance and a bloody towel held up against his face. He didn't return. Referee Chris Rooney caught a stick up high and has been escorted off the he's okay 🙏 — B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) May 19, 2025 Rooney received stitches on the cut, which was just above his eye. He was left with a black eye, but sustained no lasting damage, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun. It's unclear how long Rooney will be sidelined, but the veteran official hopes to be back in action later in the playoffs. The defending Stanley Cup champion Panthers, despite the game being 0-0 when Rooney went down, ended up cruising to the five-goal win to close out their series to advance to the Eastern Conference finals for a second straight season. They'll take on the Carolina Hurricanes in the next round, while the Dallas Stars and Edmonton Oilers are set in the Western Conference finals on the other side of the bracket.
