Commentator Stephen White has taken getting close to the action to a new extreme by deputising as referee in an Australian Ice Hockey league match at the Docklands Icehouse.

Proving that it is not just players who have to be tough in ice hockey, a linesman copped a big hit when crunched between burly Melbourne Ice defender Chris 'The Tank' Frank, Newcastle North Stars forward Beau Taylor, and the Icehouse boards.

A linesman is crunched between Ice's Chris Frank and North Star Beau Taylor. Credit:Fox Sports

As the dazed whistleblower slowly left the ice to warm applause – he suffered mild concussion and a deep laceration to an index finger in the collision – few in the near-capacity crowd would have realised that his replacement would come from the rinkside commentary booth.

Into the breach stepped White, who had been calling the high-paced action for ATC Productions, which provides the telecasts of AIHL games for Fox Sports and live feeds on the internet.