Minor league hockey winger Kale Kessy was released from the hospital Wednesday morning after getting knocked unconscious in a fight during a game Tuesday night.

Kessy, who plays for the Washington Capitals' American Hockey League affiliate Hershey Bears, was rushed to the hospital after a punch to the face from Charlotte Checkers defenseman Derek Sheppard knocked him to the ice. The two players dropped gloves and took off their helmets to throw several punches before the knockout blow. After Kessey fell to the ice, Sheppard could be seen waving for medical assistance.

The Bears said Kessy "lost but regained consciousness on the ice." The 27-year-old was stretchered off the ice in stable condition, telling his teammates, "go win this game," according to a statement from the team. Kessey was taken to Milton S. Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

“I would like to send my heartfelt thank you to Hershey Bears fans for their thoughts, prayers and support following my injury last night,” Kessy said in a statement released by the team on Wednesday.

According to Zack Fisch, Hershey's media relations coordinator, Kessy is out with an upper body injury and his timetable for return is to be determined.

Kessy was drafted by the Coyotes in 2011 and has a team-leading 102 penalty minutes for Hershey in 2019-20.