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Teen hockey player takes blade to face during state title celebration

The Francis Howell North (Mo.) boys hockey team was so excited to win Missouri’s Wickenheiser Cup (the state's high school championship) that the players raced to one end of the ice and jumped on top of each other – the traditional celebratory pile-on.

They had more than enough reason to celebrate: Francis Howell came into the Cup seeded 12th in the 16-team bracket.

Unfortunately, a hockey pile-on is more like a disaster waiting to happen. The last to jump on the pile was back-up goalie DJ LaMartina. As he did, one of his teammates kicked his foot up in the air, unintentionally catching LaMartina in the face.

The injury is gruesome. LaMartina's teammates posted photos on Twitter, showing that a chunk of his upper lip and his chin are missing, as well as a tooth.

Here is ONE VERY GRUESOME PHOTO. Click at your own risk.

This one is EVEN WORSE.

LaMartina, a junior, chimed in later, too.

It's great to see he's on the mend. A high school championship is something that he'll never forget – and from the looks of it, he'll have a scar to guarantee he never does.