Brianna Decker stretchered off ice during U.S. women's hockey opener

Brianna Decker has been stretchered off the ice with what appeared to be a severe leg injury in the U.S. women's hockey team's opening game at the Beijing Olympics.

Decker yelped out in pain several times while lying on the ice after being tripped from behind by Finland's Ronja Savolainen to the left of the U.S. net in the first period. Savolainen hooked her leg around Decker's, and the two fell awkwardly to the ice with the Finland player landing on top of the American.

Decker yelled as she was being tended to by a team doctor, and the veteran forward was unable to put any weight on her left leg as she was loaded on to a stretcher.

As Decker was being stretchered off, U.S. coach Joel Johnson could be heard asking the official whether a penalty would be called, before being told no.

The 30-year-old Decker is one of the team's three assistant captains and is making her third Olympic appearance.