Brendan Witt, staring down a GMC Yukon?

Brendan Witt, a defenseman for the New York Islanders, was hit by an SUV Tuesday morning in Philadelphia after the driver made an illegal turn, according to a report at TSN.ca. But it was what happened after the collision that caused a stir.

The Humboldt, Saskatchewan, native didn’t call the cops or get carted away in an ambulance, or even attack the driver of the GMC Yukon that hit him. Instead, he got up, shook himself off, and told the crowd of onlookers, “I’ve got to go play some hockey. I’m a hockey player. I’m okay. No big deal.”

One of the bystanders said, “It was like seeing Clint Eastwood, but in hockey.”

Witt later told Newsday, “I just got lucky. Fortunately nothing bad happened. I’m just a little sore.”

Witt was, indeed, back on the ice just hours later for the morning skate with his teammates, who are in Philly to play the Flyers at the Wachovia Spectrum.

If the story wasn’t great enough, here’s a sampling of some of the comments from the Canadian sports site that reported it:

• “Brendan Witt jumps in the river and doesn’t get wet, the river gets Brendan Witted.”

• “When Chuck Norris goes to bed at night, he checks his closet for Brendan Witt.”

• Finally, for the win… “The Yukon is listed as day-to-day with a lower-bodywork injury.”