Team USA D Charlie McAvoy hospitalized, out for 4 Nations final

Team USA defenseman Charlie McAvoy was ruled out for Thursday's 4 Nations Face-Off final against Team Canada.

The Boston Bruins issued a statement confirming McAvoy's status on Tuesday, one day after he missed Team USA's 4 Nations Face-Off loss to Sweden.

"Charlie was admitted to Massachusetts General Hospital on Monday to undergo testing related to an upper-body injury sustained during the 4 Nations Face-Off and is currently being evaluated by Boston Bruins Head Team Physician Dr. Peter Asnis. He will not play for Team USA in the 4 Nations Face-Off Championship Game on Thursday at TD Garden," the Bruins said in a statement. "The Boston Bruins will provide further updates on his condition and status as soon as they become available."

Team USA head coach Mike Sullivan said Tuesday that Vancouver Canucks captain Quinn Hughes is traveling to Boston, the site of the final.

Hughes, the reigning Norris Trophy recipient, initially was a late removal from Team USA's roster due to an undisclosed injury. He would be allowed to join the team should it fail to roster six healthy defensemen, but he is unable to practice of play unless the United States falls below that threshold.

Sullivan also said he expects Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews to play on Thursday. Matthews is dealing with upper-body soreness.

McAvoy was a central figure in Team USA's 3-1 win over Team Canada on Saturday. The 27-year-old delivered a teeth-rattling check on Team Canada's Connor McDavid that set the tone in the victory.

McAvoy is the son-in-law of Sullivan and is serving as assistant captain on the 4 Nations roster. He missed seven games in January with an upper-body injury and returned to action Jan. 30. He had left shoulder surgery in 2022.

He was out of the lineup Monday along with Matthews and Matthew Tkachuk, who sustained a lower-body injury against Team Canada on Saturday. Team USA lost to Sweden, 2-1, and lost Brady Tkachuk to a lower-body injury in the first period when he crashed into a net post.

"Brady obviously had a lower-body injury," Sullivan said Monday night. "We held him out more for precautionary reasons at that point. I haven't got an update to this point after the game yet, so we'll see how he responds. But I don't anticipate it being an issue."

--Field Level Media