In a recent incident during a hockey game, an official narrowly escaped serious injury. The event occurred when Eeli Tolvanen of the Seattle Kraken, in pursuit of the puck, unintentionally collided with referee Furman South from behind, causing South to nearly crash into the boards.
The collision took place in a game featuring the Seattle Kraken and the LA Kings. Tolvanen was chasing the puck when he collided with South, who was then propelled head-first towards the boards. Fortunately, he managed to turn his head just in time, avoiding more severe injuries, though he appeared quite shaken by the incident.
Following the collision, Tolvanen checked on South's condition before continuing the game. Despite the impact, South was able to shake it off and remain on the ice.
This is not the first time this season that South has experienced an on-ice incident. Earlier, he sustained a facial injury from a stick during the second period's opening faceoff in a game between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the San Jose Sharks on November 10, 2023.
