This weekend, the KHL’s junior division had one of the weirdest and longest hip checks you’re ever likely to see. As you can see in the clip above, HC Riga defenseman Kristaps Zile attempts to throw the hip into Lukas Pozgay as the Red Bulls player tries to maneuver around him at one of the defensive zone’s faceoff dots. Zile ends up getting under Pozgay and carrying him on his back all the way into the boards, where he finishes the check.
It was a wild play and the result was pretty awkward; Pozgay looked to be very shaken up on the ice immediately afterwards. He didn’t return to game, nor did he suit up for the Red Bull’s next game. Hopefully the damage is limited and he can get back out there soon. That certainly didn’t look like it felt good.
