Hockey players are the most hardcore of professional athletes and here is another tale of that.

Yesterday, after the St. Louis Blues were eliminated by the Nashville Predators, forward Alex Steen told reporters that he played both rounds with a broken foot.

Steen broke his foot during Game One of the Blues first round against the Minnesota Wild.

Steen insisted he didn't want to take away from focus on team but acknowledged he did suffer a broken foot in GM 1 against Minnesota. (1/2)

— Jeremy Rutherford (@jprutherford) May 7, 2017

During Game Four of round two, after playing 9 games on his broken foot, Steen blocked a Roman Josi slap shot. Steen kicked out his left foot, and because he is a forward he was not wearing the protective skate shells that most defensemen wear.

Steen said that blocking the shot caused further complications and he was unable to play in Game Five.

Steen's foot was further broken on the blocked shot in Game 4. Very tough not to play Game 5, he said, but gave it a go tonight. (2/2)

— Jeremy Rutherford (@jprutherford) May 7, 2017

Steen returned to the bench in pain, but somehow finished the game totaling over 18 minutes of ice time.

“He’s been a great leader and a great warrior for us and obviously a lot of credit to him for not just playing tonight,” Blues coach Mike Yeo told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “Being inside and knowing what he’s going through, just to put his skate on and to get on the ice, it’s pretty impressive. It’s a real good leadership message and a message to what we’re trying to do as far as a culture here. He’s obviously laying it on the line and sacrificing whatever he can for his teammates and again that’s what leadership is.”

This postseason we have seen several players play through intense injuries. First, it was announced Erik Karlsson planned to play with a broken foot. Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski later broke his face after taking a puck deflecting and finished the game (until his eye closed up). Finally, San Jose Sharks forward Joe Thornton played the first round with a torn MCL and ACL.

I will never complain about a stubbed toe ever again.

Photo: Frederick Breedon/Getty Images North America