Former NHL defender proves once again that hockey players are built different

Hockey players are some of the toughest athletes out there, the amount of times they play through injuries that can be very severe is astounding. Everyone knows that if a player, especially in the NHL is out of the lineup, it's for a good reason.

Recently former National Hockey League defender and New York Rangers Legend Dan Girardi detailed one of his most gruesome injuries after blocking a shot, take a look.

Graphic photos below, viewer discretion advised

Girardi says while playing for the Rangers, he blocked a shot off of his ankle, didn't think anything of it, went to go get stitched up by the trainer, took the rest of the game off and was back at it not long after. Later, the training staff wanted to check on his ankle after it had been rubbing in his skate boot, so he took off his sock and the stitches were gone, all you could see was bone.

The trainers then had to start Girardi on a long recovery plan to deal with the infection and he was out for an extended period of time.

Girardi never lost his sense of humour while he had to wear a wound vacuum to help his ankle heal, having one of the personnel iron on a Chanel logo on the bag he had to carry

The fact that Girardi kept going for a few days after the block is a feat by itself, once again proving hockey are a different breed