Referee Dean Smith left a game between the Sheffield Steelers and Nottingham Panthers after taking a hard hit.
Smith was caught up in a collision along the boards late in the second period of Sunday’s game. Sheffield’s David Phillips lined up a hit on the Panthers’ Robert Baillargeon, driving him into the official.
He left the ice for medical attention. Referee Stefan Hogarth handled the remainder of the period with linesmen Ilia Kisil and Ryan Fraley.
Smith returned for the third period.
