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Except it wasn’t a player who was injured.

It was Robinson himself.

“There was just blood all over the place,� he said.

Watching hockey is Robinson’s pastime. His passion. Robinson’s sons were raised in rinks — he adored watching Tyler and Brett play for shift after shift, year after year. Robinson also followed his hometown Blues like any good South County boy should. And he was nourished by his job as a referee.

He began by actually doing roller hockey games. And in 2010, Robinson switched to ice hockey. A truck driver by day, he was a zebra by night, officiating high-level youth hockey games in the ºüÀêÊÓƵ area.

But watching hockey will never look the same.

On Oct. 26, during a AAA under-15 game at Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights, “I was on the bench side of the rink,� said Robinson, 56.

“The players were right in my face (going for the puck) — and I happened to get caught up in them. And next thing I know, I get popped in the face with a hockey stick. So I immediately grabbed my face like anybody else would. And then I blew my whistle because I knew I was hurt pretty bad.�

Earlier that evening, Robinson went to dinner with his wife, Kristin, and their son, Brett, at Kasabi Japanese Steakhouse and Ramen. Robinson left dinner early to get to the game. Back home, Kristin began doing some laundry but soon got a call from her husband’s number.

“I thought that was odd because I’m like, 'He should be on the ice right now,'� Kristin said. “It wasn’t him. It was his (officiating) partner that was on the ice.�

A hockey stick blade accidentally slashed Robinson’s left eye.

“He had a ruptured globe in the eye,� Kristin said. “They did a 3½-hour emergency surgery that Sunday morning. And from what they’re saying, they do not believe that he will get vision back in that eye at this point.�

The ref might no longer ref.

“My on-ice stuff is going to be really, really limited now,� Robinson said. “(Emotionally), it’s really, really tough, honestly. Hopefully I can still officiate, like club level, house league games, you know, the littler guys. I mean, we’ll have to see. ...

“And I am a professional delivery driver for Herc Rentals. So in that aspect, I don’t think it’s looking good for me going back to work.�

A to help the Robinson family with financial assistance.

You hear about how caring the ºüÀêÊÓƵ hockey community is — well, as of Sunday afternoon, $65,000 had been raised. And an additional $8,000 has been donated directly to the Missouri Ice Hockey Officials Association for Robinson.

“We’ve always known the hockey community is pretty tight knit,� Kristin said, “but this is a whole different level of support than we had never expected.�

The biggest donation so far, $5,000, was from the ºüÀêÊÓƵ Blues and Blues alumni.

And sure enough, one of the most-beloved alums was there that night.

Barret Jackman, who played 13 seasons in ºüÀêÊÓƵ, was an assistant coach for his son’s under-15 team.

“He helped me off the ice,� Robinson said. “And they have a trainer outside the rink for any injuries — she helped me out, and Barret was with me. Then they called the paramedics, and Barret was there almost the whole time until the paramedics took me away in the ambulance. Barret is a pretty outstanding individual, that’s for sure.�

Kristin discussed the “range of emotions� she went through that night, starting from the call from Dean that wasn’t from Dean. She recalled driving to Mercy Hospital, and, “I really had no idea what to expect.�

The doctors’ reactions stuck with her. They had to transport Dean to Barnes-Jewish Hospital. Kristin drove herself — “That drive was a little bit more surreal,� she said. “Like, I just couldn’t believe this is happening. And then being alone in the car definitely made it a little more difficult.�

By phone this past Saturday, Robinson said his left eye is still “swollen shut.� The pain isn’t like it was earlier in the week, at least. He said he has good mornings and bad mornings — it’s just hard for him to sleep.

“When I first heard the news, I was just like, ‘Oh my God, no,’� said MIHOA President Joe Kalin, who started . “We have 400 referees ... and it’s more like a brotherhood. I mean, you hear that a lot, but it really, really is. Our guys tend to take care of each other when things happen. ...

“I really felt for him. Dean’s been around a long time. He’s reffed a lot of games — he enjoys it. I was just devastated when I heard about the extent of the injury. I’ve talked to him and his wife. It’s just sad.�