The Avalanche returned home early Monday morning and is taking the day off. Our normal coverage of the team will resume Tuesday from practice. Freelance game stories from the 3-0 Canadian trip are at denverpost.com/avalanche.
Personnel attend to referee Butch Mousseaux on the ice at Van Andel Arena on Friday. (Peter J. Wallner | MLive.com)
Butch Mousseaux is a Western Collegiate Hockey Association referee from the Superior/Erie area.. He was seriously injured Friday at the WCHA Final Five in Grand Rapids, Mich., during warmups before the Ferris State-Michigan Tech playoff game. He fell and hit his head on the ice, and blood came out of his ears, according to good friend and former WCHA linesman Tim Swiader. He is in a drug-induced coma at Mercy Health St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Rapids, and doctors are hoping to ultimately transfer him to Craig Hospital in Englewood, Swiader said. The WCHA does not require officials to wear helmets during warmups, and Mousseaux was not wearing one. Swiader, now a video official for the Colorado-based National Collegiate Hockey Conference, said the NCHC requires helmet protection for officials at all times. “I’m sure every league at every level will require them after this. Butch is a very good skater,” Swiader said.
Referee Butch Mousseaux (WCHA photo)
Those generous folks at Dawg Nation have established a fundraiser for Butch and his family.
From Dawg Nation: Additionally and as another option, you can go to: gofundme.com and type the words “Get Better Butchy” into the “search” window, which will take you directly to a Go Fund Me account that was set up for Butch and his family.
