BOSTON — Charlie McAvoy, the defenseman for the Boston Bruins, is currently hospitalized due to a serious right shoulder injury that has since become infected, according to a statement released by the team on Wednesday. This update comes just a day after McAvoy was removed from participation in the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament.

Team physician Peter Asnis reported that McAvoy sustained an injury to his acromioclavicular (AC) joint during a round-robin match against Finland in Montreal last Thursday. He received initial treatment from the medical staff of Team USA. However, following his return to Boston, McAvoy experienced an increase in pain, prompting additional medical evaluation that uncovered the infection. Fortunately, Asnis mentioned that doctors are now addressing the infection, and McAvoy’s condition is showing signs of improvement.

At 27 years old, McAvoy has been a vital player for Team USA throughout this international competition, making a notable impact with his aggressive plays against Canadian hockey stars Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby. His contributions were a significant factor in setting an intense tone during the highly anticipated match between the North American teams.

The final game of the tournament against Canada is scheduled to take place on Thursday at TD Garden, which is the Bruins’ home arena. U.S. coach Mike Sullivan, who is also McAvoy’s father-in-law, expressed his disappointment regarding McAvoy’s absence from the championship match, emphasizing how much the tournament means to him. “He’s a great kid and a terrific hockey player, and I know this was important to him,” Sullivan remarked on Tuesday.

Sullivan mentioned that Quinn Hughes, the reigning Norris Trophy winner, could be a potential substitute for McAvoy. However, Hughes was still in Vancouver with the Canucks as of Tuesday.