From strategy, skill, to downright fist fighting, ice hockey has it all. Skating across the ice while dribbling a puck, changing pace at the drop of a dime, last-moment tackles, and more, makes each ice hockey game a roller coaster ride of emotions for players as well as fans. While every move a player makes on the ice is deliberate, sometimes freak accidents happen that lead to severe injuries. On Friday, one such incident occurred in the Kontinental Hockey League game between Nizhny Novgorod Torpedo and Dynamo Moskva.

Torpedo forward Kirill Urakov suffered a massive injury to his face during the game. Hockey fans were left stunned after the KHL released the video of the accident on social media.

It could’ve been much worse for the ice hockey star

The freak incident happened during the high-stakes game that the Nizhny Novgorod Torpedos won 4-3. When both the teams were trying to break the 3-3 deadlock, Urkov tried to dodge an incoming tackle. A Moskva player attempted to body check the forward. However, Urakov thought he could slip the body check and possibly capitalize on the moment.

As he moved, the Dynamo Moskva player collided with Urakov’s left leg, lost his balance, and fell forward. However, while falling on the ice, his right leg swung upward, hitting the Torpedo player in the face with the blade of his skate. Kirill Urakov couldn’t react in time, and the sharp skate blade hit him square in the face.

The forward winced in pain and immediately skated off the ice to seek medical attention. On his way out, he took off his helmet and gloves and threw them on the skating rink. The video that the KHL posted on Twitter also showed the ice hockey player clutching a towel to his face, bleeding from the cut on his face.

Surprisingly, NHL player Tyler Seguin suffered a similar stake blade cut when he collided with Jordan Greenway of the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday. However, unlike Urakov, Seguine cut his leg. Hockey fans reacted after watching the video the KHL posted.

The fans were horrified

Fans who saw the video seemed horrified but also glad because the injury could have been even worse.

Shy of A Damar Hamlin situation, this is as scary as it gets. I hope Kirill Urakov survives and can make a full recovery.

For non hockey fans: he took a slice of a machete to his face. His fate is up to the first responders.

— Tim Del Monaco🍥 (@legendofthetim) March 11, 2023

At least it didn’t bleed right away, hope that’s a good sign. Other guys leg did not need to come up that high.

— StarsnStripes22 (@SStripes22) March 11, 2023

Some fans asked if the KHL player was doing ok, as the video ends abruptly and doesn’t show Urakov receiving medical attention.

The video shows Urakov getting cut with the skate blade right above the left lip. However, the Nizhny Novgorod Torpedo is yet to reveal any further details about the injury.

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