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Mitch Callahan is helped off the ice after he was struck in the mouth during a game in April, 2014.

(MLive file)

GRAND RAPIDS - Mitch Callahan, who suffered a gruesome injury just over a year and a half ago when he was struck in the mouth by a puck, had it happen again.

The Grand Rapids Griffins' fifth-year right winger was struck in the mouth during a light practice Friday and will be out for an undetermined amount of time.

"One of my teeth went flying out and it was bleeding pretty heavy," Callahan said in a text message Saturday morning. "But I'm about set to leave the hospital and be back in my own bed."

Callahan underwent surgery Friday night and had a metal plate inserted and his jaw wired shut. It occurred on the opposite side of where he was hit in 2014, he said.

Callahan said a shot was deflected off a stick and hit him in the lip and lower jaw.

As for how long he might be out, Callahan said in a text, "it's looking like four to six weeks, with my mouth wired shut for two."

This has happened before. Callahan was hit in the mouth by a puck from friendly fire in front of the net during a game April 2, 2014. The injury blew up on social media when Callahan posted a selfie of himself in the dressing room shortly after the incident. He suffered a broken jaw and lost 10 teeth but returned to the lineup four weeks later.

Callahan did not play in Friday's 5-4 win against Texas that extended the Griffins' franchise-record win streak to 13 games. He entered the night tied for fourth on the team in scoring with 13 points (8-5-13) and a plus-six rating.

"He's been playing some good hockey. It was just an unfortunate accident," coach Todd Nelson said. "We were working on the power play and it ramped off a stick ... But he's a tough cookie. He didn't even flinch."

The 24-year-old Callahan has had a series of bad breaks. His 2014-15 season was cut short when his skate caught a rough patch of the ice at Van Andel Arena on Feb. 13 and he tore his right ACL.

Callahan has 67 goals and 124 points in 260 career games with the Griffins.

Pete Wallner covers sports for MLive/Grand Rapids Press. Email him at pwallner@mlive.com or follow him on Twitter, Facebook or Google+.