The Golden Knights have announced that veteran defenseman Alex Pietrangelo has decided to withdraw from the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off tournament. The decision was made public on Sunday through a statement posted on X.

The Golden Knights confirmed that Pietrangelo’s withdrawal is due to a health issue, allowing him to focus on managing his ailment and preparing for the remainder of the NHL season with the team. Pietrangelo was one of seven players from the Golden Knights set to represent their nations in the tournament, specifically part of the Canadian roster which also includes other team members such as forward Mark Stone, defenseman Shea Theodore, and goaltender Adin Hill.

At 35 years old, Pietrangelo has had a notable season with Vegas, playing in 46 games and accumulating 25 points through three goals and 22 assists. He was seen participating in warmups ahead of the game against the Florida Panthers, who are the defending champions, on Sunday.

Hailing from King City, Ontario, Pietrangelo has an impressive international career, having secured gold medals at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey and the Winter Olympics in 2014, along with competing for Canada in the IIHF World Championship in 2011.

The tournament, where Canada is set to face off against Sweden at the Bell Centre on February 12, is approaching. Additionally, forward William Karlsson from the Golden Knights, who was named to Sweden’s roster, is currently recovering from a lower-body injury, putting his participation in the event in doubt as well.