Ref Kozari gets accidentally hit by Hayden Fleury -- Taken off on Stretcher

[Leonardo87]

That was a nasty collision, hope Kozari and Fleury are ok.

 

[FiveFourteenSixOne]

Hoping for best for Kozari and a full recovery.

Again I ask -- WTF was he doing skating through the middle of the ice while play was on?

 

[JoeGarelli]

That's the position for the high official, they roam the center of the ice when the play is down low..

Kozari is a great skater, a confident skater, he always seems to be closer to the play because of these attributes.

 

[Colt.45Orr]

That's on Fleury

 

[Filthy Dangles]

That's on Fleury

What, how? He's entitled to defend and occupy that ice.

To me it looks like Kozari thought he was behind and tracking all 10 skaters but didn't realize a Tampa player was coming off the bench.

There's zero reason ot be going for a skate at center ice there unless you thought you had all players in your sights

 

[Nikki Potnick]

Again I ask -- WTF was he doing skating through the middle of the ice while play was on?

The back official is almost always in the middle of the ice when the play in the zone, best field of vision. Also when the puck is breaking out they can choose which side they want to go to for better view.

 

[Bounces R Way]

Hope the best for Kozari. Always very dangerous when you don't have any opportunity to brace for contact.

Again I ask -- WTF was he doing skating through the middle of the ice while play was on?

Refereeing an NHL game would be my guess.

 

[Joe Rogan]

The NA ice is too crowded as it is at any given time, and the refs still manage to mess up calls and bungle games. Set them aside and get video officiating already

 

[Nogatco Rd]

The NA ice is too crowded as it is at any given time, and the refs still manage to mess up calls and bungle games. Set them aside and get video officiating already

ppl would complain just as much if not more about whatever algorithm is used to determine hooking, interference, roughing etc.

I’m fine with the human element of officiating. I think most complaints boil down to dissatisfaction with the “game management” approach, which could absolutely be addressed if the league/commissioner/owners found it desirable to do so.

 

[ES]

The back official is almost always in the middle of the ice when the play in the zone, best field of vision. Also when the puck is breaking out they can choose which side they want to go to for better view.

I think referees are usually on different sides of the rink (one on the players' bench, one on the officals box) too.

 

[Sol]

Kozari told him “you should have gone for the head”

Future 8000 penalties against that guy when he’s back

 

[Mrfenn92]

Hopefully he’s alright

 

[red devil]

 

[TheDawnOfANewTage]

That's the position for the high official, they roam the center of the ice when the play is down low..

Kozari is a great skater, a confident skater, he always seems to be closer to the play because of these attributes.

What, how? He's entitled to defend and occupy that ice.

To me it looks like Kozari thought he was behind and tracking all 10 skaters but didn't realize a Tampa player was coming off the bench.

There's zero reason ot be going for a skate at center ice there unless you thought you had all players in your sights

The back official is almost always in the middle of the ice when the play in the zone, best field of vision. Also when the puck is breaking out they can choose which side they want to go to for better view.

I think it’s just an unfortunate accident, it happens sometimes. Kozari misjudged where the 10th guy was as he transitioned to get to the other side of the ice and outta the way, and the 10th guy failed to see him change direction, he’d tunnel-visioned on the puck beyond Kozari.

That’s my read anyways, weird how many are wondering what he’s doing when it seems pretty clear. He cut to the middle for a better view, then was trying to go where the puck wasn’t.

 

[Ol' Jase]

Glad to hear he’s ok. That looked pretty brutal.

 

[joestevens29]

How is there nothing on this? Sure hope next time a player gets fubar they lose the vhs backup too

 

[The Great Mighty Poo]

That's on Fleury

Except it isn't, Kozari got caught out if position at center ice keeping track of play had an "Oh crap, I'm out of position and potentially in a bad spot moment", was in the process of getting to a better spot on the ice where he would interfere with play or an attacking pkayer, Fluery was coming off the bench to join the attack, and the two collided with each other at full speed. Nobody is at fault and just a freak accident that for Kozari's sake unfortunately took the full force absolute worst of.

 

[ijuka]

Yeah, you don't change your direction without making sure that nobody is approaching. Hard to blame Fleury. He probably assumed the ref would keep going past him.

 

[Duke749]

Seems a little apathetic to try and place blame on someone over a freak accident that knocked someone out. Especially when it could a lot worse.