Stick to the crotch leads to gruesome injury in the Finnish Elite League

A game Saturday between Ilves Tampere and Karpat of the Finnish Elite League produced a lot of controversy after a stick to the crotch. 19-year-old forward Antti Saarela was given a five minute major and booted from the game early after his stick got between the legs of Michal Kristof while the two were involved in a faceoff. Check it out:

Antti Saarela tämän aloitusepisodin päätteeksi aikaiseen suihkuun. 🚿

⛔️ 34:15 Mieho 2 min
⛔️ 34:19 Saarela 5+20 min#Ilves #Liiga @CMoreSportFi pic.twitter.com/CrDMuX96KE— Tampereen Ilves (@ilveshockey) February 20, 2021

The reason behind the controversy is that some, including former Finnish Elite League player turned coach
Ismo Lehkonen, took to Twitter and accused Kristof of making the play seem much worse than it actually was. After the game, Kristoff insisted the pain was real, and told Is.fi there was blood in his urine during the intermission.

"Saarela certainly didn't do it on purpose, but it was damn painful," Kristof said following the game.

He added that he was being monitored by doctors to see if the blood would continue when he urinated. He did finish the game. Ilves defeated Kapat 2-1.

MUST READ

8 hours ago  |  By Tom Banks Unforeseen Events Nearly Force Toronto Maple Leafs vs Utah Hockey Club Game to be Postponed

10 hours ago  |  By Tom Banks NHL Department of Player Safety Makes Official Ruling On Canucks Captain Quinn Hughes

11 hours ago  |  By Aaron Itovitch Canadian Team Unexpectedly Places 6-Foot-3 Enforcer on the NHL Waiver Wire

12 hours ago  |  By Aaron Itovitch Elliotte Friedman Hints at Trade of 30 Million Dollar Defenseman to Canadian Team

14 hours ago  |  By Aaron Itovitch 900-Game NHL Veteran Likely to Retire After Refusing to Sign With Canadian Team

15 hours ago  |  By Aaron Itovitch Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving Addresses Struggling Player Nick Robertson in New Interview

17 hours ago  |  By Julien Trekker Terrifying Scene for Carolina Hurricanes Goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov as He Blacks Out on the Ice

Nov 23  |  By Tom Banks Angry John Tortorella Calls Out One Flyers Player: Trade is Likely Per Elliotte Friedman

MORE STORIES