Photo Credit: Brad Rempel/USA TODAY Sports

Winnipeg Jets forward Blake Wheeler left Jets practice on Friday after he was hit in the side of the head by a shot puck. According to reporters on the scene, Wheeler appeared to be in considerable pain as he left the ice.

Here’s a photo from the scene, as Wheeler is escorted off the practice sheet by Jets trainers:

UPDATE: Sportsnet.ca has exclusive footage of the incident:

Wheeler, 29, is Winnipeg’s leading scorer and is on pace for a career year with eight goals and 21 points in just 20 contests so far this season. He’s not the sort of player whose contributions the Jets can replace.

Obviously we’ll hope that Wheeler is alright, though his status for Saturday’s game is obviously now in doubt.

“He’s going to get checked out… won’t know until this afternoon how he feels,” said Jets coach Paul Maurice, in lieu of an update, courtesy the Jets’ official twitter feed.