**Warning – graphic images included in article**
Belfast Giants star Elijiah Barriga has thanked the medical team at the Nottingham Panthers after revealing the extent of a horror injury he suffered in Wednesday’s Challenge Cup Semi-Final at the Motorpoint Arena.
With 29 seconds remaining in the first period, Barriga took a skate blade to the chin while challenging for the puck in front of the net with Panthers defenceman Zsombor Garát in what was an entirely accidental collision.
The Giants winger immediately skated to the bench clutching his chin, leaving a trail of blood going from the crease to the side of the ice, and was helped to the locker room by members of the Panthers medical team, while the officials on the ice called an early halt to the period.
Fortunately, Barriga would be okay thanks to the quick work of the Nottingham staff, who stitched up the 28-year-old during the second period, and remarkably he would return to finish the game in the third period in a new jersey and wearing a face cage.
Thanks to the winger’s heroics, the Giants were able to book their place in the Challenge Cup Final against the Cardiff Devils at the SSE Arena on March 12 with a 3-2 aggregate win, despite losing 2-0 on the night.
And after the game, Barriga took to Instagram to reveal just how bad the cut on his chin was but also to assure Giants fans that he was alright following the incident, posting one picture of the injury without stitches and three with.
Elijiah Barriga took a skate to the face against the Nottingham Panthers
“All is good after last night,” the American forward posted. “Thank you to the @thenottinghampanthers doctors!”
Belfast Giants winger Elijiah Barriga shows off his scars after the incident against the Nottingham Panthers
Barriga’s incident happened just under 16 months after Panthers forward Adam Johnson was tragically killed during an Elite League game against the Sheffield Steelers when a skate blade slashed his throat during play.
Johnson collided with Steelers defenceman Matt Petgrave and attempted to skate towards the bench before collapsing on the ice and was pronounced dead in hospital that same night, with the news being released the following morning.
South Yorkshire Police have since arrested a man on suspicion of manslaughter related to the incident, however the individual has been released on bail as of January.
As a result of the incident, ice hockey Leagues around the world have since mandated the use of neck guards for players in an attempt to prevent similar incidents from becoming fatal, although most notably the National Hockey League (NHL) and Elite League have not.