South Boston-born NHL referee Chris Rooney is officially on the mend after suffering a scary injury during Game 7 of the second-round series between the Panthers and Maple Leafs on Sunday night.
Just 13 seconds into the second period of Sunday’s game at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena, Rooney was left bloodied after Florida’s Niko Mikkola caught him in the face with the blade of his stick — nearly striking him in the eye.
Rooney, doubled over on the ice with his hands covering his face, was treated by both team’s training staff while a stretcher was brought over.