It’s inevitable. As an official, you’re going to get hit with the puck.
Officials are told to turn, face, and brace. Turn towards the shooter to maximize protection from your equipment, face the shooter to allow to you to see and hopefully encourage the shooter to choose a different target, and brace for impact, with your arms to protect yourself.
Sometimes, even that doesn’t help.
Linesman Michel Cormier was fortunate to avoid injury after a blast from Philadelphia’s Radko Gudas caught him in the midsection.
Cormier maintain his footing and his composure, actually blowing his own whistle to stop play.
He remained on the ice and finished the game.
Obviously, Cormier is feeling no ill effects the next day. He’s back on the ice on Sunday, working Sharks/Devils.
