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What a Russian Teen Hockey Player Did to Her American Counterpart Had the Crowd in Disbelief
After a secondary hit, a minor fight broke out among the teams. (Image source: YouTube)

What a Russian Teen Hockey Player Did to Her American Counterpart Had the Crowd in Disbelief

"True grit."

Men's hockey can be a brutal game to watch, and the possibility of a fight that boils below the surface is just what fans love about the sport. But what happened on the ice at a youth invitational tournament between Russian and American teams might have some people wondering if they're watching a clip from the NHL.

A young woman playing for the West Coast Selects in the 2014 World Selects Invitational in Budapest, Hungary, earlier this month took a stick-breaking blow to the head from a Spartak Moscow player.

Hannah Bates (circled) went down briefly when she was hit on the head by a Russian player's hockey stick. (Image source: YouTube) Hannah Bates (circled) went down briefly when she was hit on the head by a Russian player's hockey stick. (Image source: YouTube)

According to Select Sports, the victim, Michigan native Hannah Bates, is doing well after a Russian player, identified by Canada's Global News as Svetlana Starovoytova, hit her on the helmet.

After a secondary hit, a minor fight broke out among the teams. (Image source: YouTube) After a secondary hit, a minor fight broke out among the teams. (Image source: YouTube)

Watch the footage:

Bates credited the "Russian proof" helmet for saving her from a concussion.

"Hannah showed true grit and toughness going on to finish the game and solidifying West Coast’s victory over Spartak in the pool play round," Select Sports said.

The organizer's announcement about the incident said that referees took action right after the incident and the Legacy Global Sports tournament directors suspended the Spartak player indefinitely.

The West Coast Selects ended up winning the whole tournament.

(H/T: Reddit)

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