After hockey star Brady Tkachuk took a stick to the face and it profusely spilled blood on Thursday, he made fun of his new mangled look in a postgame interview, saying he had a ‘face for radio’.
Tkachuk’s involuntary changes to his face occurred during the second period of the all-Canadian battle against the Calgary Flames.
As the Senators captain attempted to take the puck out of the corner and find an open teammate in the offensive zone, Flames captain Mikael Backlund misses his stick check and sends his blade directly into Tkachuk’s face.
After contact is made, Tkachuk immediately falls to the ice, drops his stick and a glove, and clutches his face in severe pain.
A few moments later Tkachuk gets back to his skates and makes a beeline for the dressing room for medical attention with his face turning into a crimson mask.
Tkachuk returned to the game several minutes later and scored the game-winner in overtime to give the Senators a 3-2 victory. Then came his postgame interview on Canadian television where he saw his new facial configuration for the first time.
NHL star Brady Tkachuk made fun of his new look after taking a stick to the face on Thursday
‘I don’t feel too good right now but it’ll be a tougher day tomorrow – nine stitches, one tooth gone,’ Tkachuk said as the camera panned only to him with a close-up.
‘Oh Jesus, got a face for radio right there. That ain’t good.’
Hockey players are known for being particular tough, with Tkachuk showing another resilient example by taking the facial laceration in stride.
Backlund was given the four-minute penalty for high-sticking on the play and, with a double minor automatically called by officials any time a player forces an opponent to bleed with his stick or a hit.
Tkachuk’s older brother, Matthew, won the Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers earlier this year, with their dad being NHL legend Keith Tkachuk.
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