PITTSBURGH — NHL referee Steve Kozari was taken off the ice in the third period of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ 5-4 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning at PPG Paints Arena on Saturday afternoon. He is conscious, alert and expected to make a full recovery, the NHL said in a statement.
Kozari and Lightning defenseman Haydn Fleury collided near the center ice circle about six minutes into the final period. The game was stopped as silence fell over the 18,383 spectators. Emergency response personnel quickly tended to Kozari, who remained motionless even after Fleury walked toward the medical area through the benches.
Kozari was transported to UPMC Mercy Hospital after the collision for “precautionary reasons,” the NHL said.
“I saw it out of the corner of my eye,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. “At the last second they collided and I think they hit helmet to helmet. It was a really scary collision because I don’t really think Steve was able to break his fall.
“It was a scary moment.”
Scary scenes in Pittsburgh during the Penguins vs. Lightning game.
Referee Steve Kozari was taken off on a stretcher following a collision with Haydn Fleury.
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The collision occurred outside of the action and neither the ESPN broadcast nor the arena video board showed a clear replay. The video board was quickly cut off from its in-game live feed when it became clear that Kozari was not quick to get up.
Several Penguins players said after the game that they did not see the collision between Kozari and Fleury. Marcus Pettersson and Erik Karlsson said they were surprised a referee was in that spot on the ice. Pettersson added that he thought Kozari didn’t notice the puck was sent in the opposite direction, which could have exposed him to being blindsided by Fleury.
There was a long stoppage as medical staff surrounded Kozari. Some players from both teams tried to divert attention with short skates near the benches. Coaches and other players saw Kozari receiving treatment. After several minutes of attention, Kozari was hoisted onto a stretcher, which was removed from the ice through the Zamboni entrance.
“It was bad, it didn’t look good,” Penguins captain Sidney Crosby said. “I wish Steve the best. I hope he is well.
Crosby, who played 19 seasons, said Kozari is a highly regarded referee among NHL players.
At the start of this season, Kozari, 46, had officiated 1,151 regular-season Stanley Cup playoff games, or 136, according to his biography posted on the NHLOA’s official website. He also appeared in four Stanley Cup Finals series.
Kozari was promoted to full-time NHL status after the 2006-07 season, according to the biography. He began officiating at all levels of minor league hockey before spending 10 seasons with the Western Hockey League.
Kozari, who wears number 40, notably worked with the BC Sheriff’s Office when he was a part-time official in the WHL.
(Photo: Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)