Ice hockey referee has to leave the rink covered in blood after being struck in the face by a Team USA player’s stray stick during their defeat to Canada
- A ice hockey ref was left pouring with blood after being hit by a wayward stick
- Official Cianna Lieffers sustained a nasty cut above her mouth after being accidentally hit by Team USA player Amanda Kessel a game against Canada
- Lieffers was forced to leave the rink to deal with the horrific injury on Tuesday
- However, she made a swift return to officiate the Winter Olympics game
- Latest Winter Olympics news, including schedule, medal table and results
This is the horrific moment an ice hockey referee was left pouring with blood after being struck by a player’s wayward stick in a game between Team USA and Canada at the Winter Olympics.
Cianna Lieffers was watching the action behind the net when Team USA player Amanda Kessel accidentally swiped the match official above the mouth with her ice hockey stick.
Slow-mo footage shows just how the stick caught Lieffers in the face, who immediately turned away in agony before leaving the rink to stop the painful-looking cut from bleeding.
Ice hockey referee Cianna Lieffers (right) was left pouring with blood after being hit by a wayward stick on Tuesday
Lieffers (right) was watching the action when Team USA player Amanda Kessel (centre front) accidentally swiped the match official above the mouth with her stick
The Canadian ref winces in pain after being struck with the stick in the game’s second period
After being escorted off the rink by Canada’s training team, Lieffers received medical attention where a nasty cut could be seen between her top lip and her nose.
However, just moments after sustaining the injury, the Canadian official incredibly returned to the rink to continue officiating the match following the incident in the second period.
She appeared to signal to photographers not to take photos as she returned to the ice.
Kessel is said to have apologised to Lieffers for her wayward stick.
Lieffers holds a towel to the wound to stop the blood after she was forced to leave the ice
A nasty-looking cut forms above Lieffers’ mouth before she returns to officiate the game
Lieffers’ return to the game also saw a turning point in the game, which saw Canada overturn a 2-1 deficit and go on to beat their North American rivals 4-2.
Canada scored three times over a span of five minutes and 25 seconds to secure the victory over the defending champion Team USA, claiming the women’s hockey tournament’s top seed having won all four of their four group stage games.
Canada are currently third in the overall medals table as it stands and are on course to collect another one should they continue their fine form in the ice hockey.