College hockey ref dies week after hitting his head on ice
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A college hockey referee who fell during pregame warmups in Grand Rapids, Michigan, has died.
The Western Collegiate Hockey Association and the National Collegial Hockey Conference issued a statement saying Oliver "Butch" Mousseau died Friday.
Mousseau struck his head on the ice on March 18 at Van Andel Arena. He was to have worked a semifinal game between Michigan Tech and Ferris State.
WZZM-TV reports that the 48-year-old Mousseau was not wearing a helmet and had to be taken off the ice on a stretcher.
#MoMavs deeply saddened to hear of the passing of longtime #ECHL and #NCAA referee Oliver 'Butch' Mousseau. pic.twitter.com/WiaLEDA5Oz
— Missouri Mavericks (@MissouriMavs) March 25, 2016
Mousseau also had officiating experience in the minors and Canadian juniors.
He is survived by his wife and three children.
