BEIJING -- A Chinese ice hockey player has been banned for life after slicing open a rival's cheek and knocking out three of his teeth in a Chinese league game.

Lang Bingyu from Qiqihar elbowed Huang Peng's head and neck, and jabbed his face with the hockey stick in a Nov 26 game held in the northeastern city of Harbin. With three teeth knocked out, Huang also received 42 stitches on his left cheek.

The Chinese winter sports administrative center announced in a statement on Wednesday that Lang has been banned for life "from playing or coaching" in the sport.

"This is the severest punishment in the Chinese ice hockey history," said the center's deputy director Wang Zhili.

Qiqihar coach, Liu Wen, has been suspended for a year.