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ICE HOCKEY

Ice hockey referee dies after being hit in the head by puck

Pavel Lainka was refereeing the game between Brno and Sumperk when he was struck by the ice hockey puck. He later died in hospital.

Ice hockey referee dies after being hit in the head by puck
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Ice hockey referee Pavel Lainka died on Saturday after being hit by a puck in the head during a Czech league match.

The incident happened in a youth game between Brno and Sumperk. After being struck by the puck, Lainka fell unconscious to the ice.

The referee was immediately transferred to a local hospital where he was unable to be revived and passed away due to the severity of the head injury.

Ice hockey referee Pavel Lainka died after being hit by a puck in the head during a Czech league match.
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Ice hockey referee Pavel Lainka died after being hit by a puck in the head during a Czech league match.

Minute silence this weekend

The Czech Ice Hockey Federation said there will be a minute of silence at each game played in the nation this week in its top two leagues.

“He was exceptionally active and successful and also one of the first absolvents of the referee of collective sports major at the Masaryk University in Brno,” said Vladimir Sindler, chairman of the Czech Ice Hockey Association’s officiating committee.

“Many remember Pavel not just from the ice rink and seminars, but also as a friend, who was always happy and smiling and was an amazing teammate.”