ST. LOUIS — 5 On Your Side first reported in November about a local hockey referee who partially lost his eyesight after being hit by a stick during a game.
Now, Dean Robinson is unable to go back to work as a truck driver.
Only on 5 On Your Side Annie Krall heard from Robinson, speaking publicly for the first time, about the lasting impact of his devastating injury.
"I was on the bench side of the rink where all the players are and I was trying to hold my line," Robinson said. "Then, I started backing up."
That was only two minutes into the Oct. 26 Jr. Blues game. The matchup of 15-year-olds would change Robinson's life as a pair of skaters beelined for the puck.
"The kids came at me a little too fast," Robinson said. "I didn't have enough time to get out of the way."
Footage of the game obtained by 5 On Your Side faintly shows a hockey stick hitting his face, making Robinson double over.
The St. Peters dad was taken by paramedics from Centene Community Ice Center to two different hospitals before going in for a 3.5-hour eye surgery.
"I was just more aggravated at myself and what had happened than anything," Robinson said. "It was unfortunate. That's the risk we take when we get out on the ice every game that we officiate."
A risk the Missouri Ice Hockey Officials Association (MIHOA) knows too well.
"It made you think," Joe Kalin, MIHOA president, said. "A couple guys I talked to said, 'I don't know if I want to keep doing this if something like that is going to happen to me.' I'm like, 'You've got to keep reffing. We need you.' It was pretty emotional."
At first unsure if he'd be able to get his sight back, Robinson was told by ophthalmologists around Thanksgiving that he had a detached retina, compounded by too much nerve damage for another surgery.
Robinson has now lost total vision in his left eye.
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Robinson said he's having to adapt to his decreased vision, with some mundane tasks presenting new hurdles.
"Trying to grab stuff, you're a couple inches too short." Robinson said. "Other than that, it's really rough. It really is. I'm just taking it every day, one day at a time, so to speak."
Watching from behind the glass Monday, on the very same NHL Rink where it happened, Robinson said he's grateful for the widespread support.
The nationwide hockey community and others raised more than $86,000 for his recovery.
"My wife, she's been a savior to me," Robinson said. "My kids, Joe Kalin and my whole association and everybody that's contributed to the GoFundMe page, it's just overwhelming."
Monday was the first time Robinson was back even recreationally skating.
If you'd like to donate and support Robinson, here is a link to the GoFundMe.
From Feb. 21-23, the DAWG Nation Winter Classic at Steinberg Skating Rink in Forest Park will be playing in part to help Robinson and his family.