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WARNING: Story includes graphic images some may find disturbing. 

If you’re about to dine on some turkey and cranberry sauce and all the fixings, maybe hold off on viewing the visuals that go with this story. And maybe don't gather 'round the kids for this one.

In a game between the Utica Commets, AHL affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks, and the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers, things got pretty testy as Utica dominated.

At the 17:16 mark of the second period, the Comets had gone up 4-0. That’s when things came to a head between former Flyers first-round pick Samuel Morin and Canucks prospect Joseph LaBate. The two very large individuals dropped the gloves.

The fight didn’t last long, but the end result was LaBate’s face shield looking like a piece of evidence from a crime scene. View the video and picture below at your own risk.

LaBate was badly cut after taking some heavy blows from Morin. It appears LaBate actually got cut by his protective shield which is designed more to protect from sticks and pucks than it is the fists of a 6-foot-7 defenseman.

This photo captured the pure brutality of the fight and how badly it ended for LaBate, who is in his first season as a professional.

Yikes.

The evening got better for LaBate, however. He scored the Comets’ seventh goal in a 7-1 win. It was the first goal of his pro career.

And when you score your first professional goal that means you get to take a picture with the puck. Here’s a patched-up LaBate striking a pose.

Hockey can hurt, but only for a little while apparently.

Samuel Morin proved to be a fierce combatant in this AHL fight. (USATSI)
Samuel Morin proved to be a fierce combatant in this AHL fight. (USATSI)