THEY would have felt this hit back in Moscow.

Ruslan Iskhakov, a freshman forward for the University of Connecticut on his way to the National Hockey League, was flattened in a game against Quinnipiac on Wednesday (AEST).

Selected by the New York Islanders in the second round of June’s draft, Iskhakov is completing his college career before making the step up to the pros.

But he was knocked unconscious and had to be lifted out of the arena by paramedics after being collected in the centre of the ice.

UConn said the 18-year-old would be OK, but it terrified the crowd when he went down in the third period.

The 173cm lefty from Russia, picked No. 43 by the Islanders, skated into Quinnipiac’s zone and was immediately put on his back by a vicious hit. As he lay on the ice, the 18-year-old did not show signs of movement, and he had to be stretchered off.

It was nasty from every angle.

Glad @UConnMHOC Ruslan Iskhakov was released from hospital after big hit. He’s back on campus, doing well @WTNH pic.twitter.com/eEakItum9U — John Pierson (@JPPierson) October 17, 2018

This is the hit on Ruslan Iskhakov I tweeted about earlier. Scariest thing I've ever seen at a live hockey game. pic.twitter.com/B1xDah05Ns — Life-long Rams Fan Dan Why-Ner (@DanWeiner) October 17, 2018

“Ruslan Iskhakov was transported to the hospital from the arena during last night’s game at Quinnipiac for precautionary reasons,” said the school’s statement released to a UConn blog. “All tests were normal and he was released from the hospital. He is currently back on campus in Storrs and is doing well. He will be evaluated on a game-by-game basis with no timetable set for a return.”

Watching UConn and Quinnipiac stream, Islanders prospect and UConn freshman Ruslan Iskhakov is being stretchered off the ice after taking a big hit in open ice. Very, very scary moment. Was down for a long time before being taken off by the paramedics. — Chris Peters (@chrismpeters) October 17, 2018