NHL linesman barely flinches before taking a misfired puck in the mouth

Hockey referees barely get the credit they’re due. While they may not be in the middle of the action all the time, the guys in stripes are always in as much danger of being run over, knocked into, and hit by objects as the players are. Plus, they wear no padding with only a half-visor to shield them from harm.

Linesman Brad Kovachik faced down a spinning rubber disk from the stick of a Maple Leaf and did not flinch one bit before it clipped him in the mouth during the second period of a game Wednesday evening. In fact, he kept on signaling for an offside until the puck hit him squarely in the mouth.

Kovachik left the ice for a few moments to get looked at but was cleared to continue officiating. Good on you!