Referee Steve Kozari was injured in a center ice collision with Tampa’s Haydn Fleury during Saturday’s game between the Lightning and Pittsburgh Penguins. 

Kozari was skating through the neutral zone, moving left to right as the trailing official.  Fleury, watching the play deep in the Pittsburgh zone, cut across to his left as he moved through center.  The two never saw each other. 

 

 

The referee took the worst of the impact, appearing to hit his head on the ice following the impact.  Leah Hextall reported that Kozari appeared to lose consciousness briefly after the collision.  

Fleury was helped off the ice. The medical staff removed Kozari on a backboard; the veteran official was moving his arms and legs as he left the ice.

Kozari is in his 18th year as a National Hockey League officials.  The 46-year-old B.C. native has worked 1,218 regular season games along with 135 playoff matches – including four trips to the Stanley Cup Final. 

There’s no word on his current condition.

The game continued with Tom Chmielewski (#18) as the lone referee, skating with linespersons Bevan Mills (#53) and Kyle Flemington (#55).

UPDATE:  The NHL has released a statement that Kozari is expected to make a full recovery.


 

Best wishes to Steve Kozari on a quick recovery. Hoping to see him back on the ice soon…