A hockey referee in the Czech Republic has died after being hit in the head by a puck.
Pavel Lainka, 24, was struck on the side of his head during an Under-16 exhibition match between Brno and Sumperk on Aug. 25.
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The former junior and minor hockey league player suffered severe injuries, and died in the hospital two weeks after the tragic accident.
Czech referee Pavel Lainka passed away at the age of 24. RIP https://t.co/AMBz3iZy2c pic.twitter.com/kOVZAwhYJ2
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) September 13, 2016
"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,” Vladimir Sindler, chairman of the Czech Ice Hockey Association's officiating committee, said in a release . "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."