A frightening moment unfolded during the KHL matchup between Avtomobilist and Amur when an official had to be carried from the ice on a stretcher.
Jeremy Garrett of Hockey News Hub shared video of the incident, noting that he had never previously seen a hockey official removed from a game this way.
At the time of the incident, the game remained scoreless with 1:12 left in the opening period. Avtomobilist was leading the shots-on-goal battle 8-6.
The footage showed the official caught in the middle of a battle along the boards, surrounded by players wearing red and white jerseys. Several sticks were moving around him as the puck sat nearby.
No specific explanation for the incident was provided with the video, and there was no immediate public update regarding the official’s condition.
The situation is a reminder of how vulnerable officials can be. They operate in the same crowded areas as the players, often with little opportunity to avoid a rapidly developing play.
The KHL’s 2026-27 regular-season graphic was visible with the footage, which reportedly attracted roughly 48,000 views within nine hours.
In the background, Amur’s goaltender could be seen positioned in his crease, with a tiger design visible on his mask, while Avtomobilist’s No. 21 battled near the blue paint.
The incident also comes during a week in which another official in North America was caught up in a dangerous play. During a game in New York on Thursday, a linesman was involved in a heavy collision involving Alberts Smits and Erik Cernak near the Tampa Bay bench. That footage likewise did not provide an immediate update on the official’s condition.
Officials are an often-overlooked part of hockey, but they face the same high-speed environment as everyone else on the ice. When a play suddenly moves toward them, there may be very little time to react.
For now, the biggest concern surrounding the KHL incident is the official’s health. Hockey fans will be hoping that a positive update follows soon.
