MONTREAL — The Canadian national hockey team will have to continue the 4 Nations Face-Off without defenseman Shea Theodore, who has been sidelined by an injury, according to coach Jon Cooper. This news comes on the heels of Canada’s thrilling 4-3 overtime victory over Sweden in their opening match of the tournament, marking a significant setback for the team.
The injury occurred during the second period when Theodore collided with the glass after being hit by Sweden’s Adrian Kempe, injuring his right wrist or forearm. Shortly after the impact, he demonstrated visible discomfort, received treatment on the bench, and subsequently left to undergo X-rays.
“It’s really unfortunate for him, especially as he only managed to play for six minutes,” Cooper noted. “He’s such a dedicated player, and it’s disheartening to see him go down. What’s inspiring is that he was right there at the door, encouraging his teammates with high-fives as they came off the ice. This is a hard pill to swallow since we all know how much he cares about being part of this team.”
The duration of Theodore’s recovery remains uncertain, and Cooper did not disclose any specifics regarding the nature of the injury. “Looking back, at least he managed to see some ice time,” Cooper said. “However, losing him for the latter part of the game was challenging, especially since we had to compete for the last 50 minutes with only five defensemen. It’s a tough situation.”
In light of Theodore’s exit, Cale Makar logged over 28 minutes of ice time, while his defensive partner, Devon Toews, played nearly 26 minutes, a demanding task given the fast pace of the game and the extended 3-on-3 overtime session. Goaltender Jordan Binnington praised their performance, noting, “Having only five defensemen to manage such a game is incredibly arduous, and I commend them for their efforts until the final buzzer. It’s certainly distressing to see Shea sustain an injury, but these things happen, and it’s about how we respond.”
Kempe, who scored for Sweden as well, expressed surprise at Theodore’s injury, stating, “I wasn’t aware that my hit had caused any harm. I didn’t even recall the hit itself until they mentioned it during the intermission. I’ll have to review the play to understand it better.”
As Theodore is ruled out, Travis Sanheim of the Philadelphia Flyers is anticipated to take his place on defense. Sanheim was a healthy scratch for the game against Sweden and is the only other defenseman available, as each team brought only seven players to the tournament.
