Veteran referee Chris Rooney will miss World Cup after rupturing Achilles

Players aren't the only World Cup participants forced to bow out due to injury.

Veteran referee Chris Rooney ruptured his Achilles while running and will be out three-to-five months following surgery, according to John Buccigross of ESPN.

He will also miss a large part of the NHL regular season.

Rooney has been officiating games at the NHL level since 2000, including main events such as the 2010 Winter Classic in Boston and the 2012 and 2013 Stanley Cup Finals.