Police now investigating hockey incident in Sweden that left 19-year-old with gruesome injuries

Warning: graphic pictures of the injury are included at the end of this story. Those images are not suitable for everyone.

Police are now officially investigating an incident during a U20 hockey game in Sweden that led to some horrible injuries for player Kid Andersson. Over the weekend, Andersson, 19, was playing a game in the J20 SuperElit league in Sweden, when an opponent made a two-handed swing of his stick at Andersson's face while he was on the bench, leaving him with a broken jaw. He is still in hospital and is on a purely liquid diet. His father, Anders Andersson reported the incident to police and has been informed that an investigation has been launched. He told Expressen.se he's not necessarily classifying the incident as criminal.

"We have really only reported that it has happened," said Anders

"It is an event that should not happen and a thing that does not belong either on the ice or on the bench. It is clear that this is an act that is completely unacceptable."


As for Kid, he said he's just trying to get back to playing hockey.

"I take it day by day, but what I am fighting for right now is, of course, to play the sport you love again, to come out stronger from this," he told Expressen via text message as speaking is still very difficult for him.

The unnamed player who swung the stick has been suspended indefinitely by his team. The league's disciplinary committee is also looking into it. The player will have a chance to state his case to the committee on Thursday and it will then decide on his punishment.

Update: Player at centre of stick-swinging incident received long suspension

"We have seen the pictures and it is completely unacceptable," said Claes E Hallqvist, chairman of the disciplinary committee. "I have not experienced anything like this. It is especially troublesome that it was not in a fighting situation or anything but he was a few meters away."

Kid Andersson admitted to splashing water on the opponent during a faceoff, but said he never expected a retaliatory gesture anywhere close to getting a stick swung hard at his face. You can view pictures of the injury below. Please be aware that they are very graphic.