AHLer takes puck to the mouth, tweets out selfie before heading to hospital

By Nick Stoico

Note: the image linked above and the video below are graphic. Avoid if you are at all squeamish.

Losing teeth is almost synonymous with the game of hockey. Ask someone to draw a picture of a player and more than likely the cartoonish puck slapper will be missing a couple of chiclets.

Well, forward Mitch Callahan of the Detroit Red Wing's AHL affiliate Grand Rapids Griffins may now be the poster boy after he was hit in the mouth by a teammate's shot on Wednesday.

Callahan was setting a screen in front of the net when defenseman Ryan Sproul uncorked a slap shot from the point. The puck nailed Callahan in the jaw, causing him to drop to his knees while blood dripped onto the ice. He left under his own power and posted a picture of the immediate aftermath on his Twitter account.

"I saw him come back (and then) I saw his teeth come back with him," Griffins forward Trevor Parkestold Peter J. Wallner of MLive.com. "Couple of us had some shaky stomachs after that."

According to Wallner, four choppers were apparently picked up off the ice.

Looks like the Tooth Fairy will need to stop by the ATM on the way to Grand Rapids, Mich. tonight.