Injury sidelines Canada’s Matthew Schaefer for rest of World Juniors

Article content material

The information Saturday morning was as devastating because it was anticipated:

Article content material

Standout Canadian defenceman Matthew Schaefer will miss the remainder of the World Juniors with an damage suffered in Friday’s loss to Latvia.

Revered hockey insider Bob McKenzie posted on X that Schaefer broke his collarbone and can doubtless be sidelined for 2-3 months.

Schaefer, a 17-year-old certain to be both chosen first or quickly thereafter in subsequent June’s Nationwide Hockey League draft, crashed violently right into a purpose publish whereas driving to the web early within the first interval of the 3-2 upset that ranks as one of the shocking in match historical past.

Article content material

From a pair of exhibitions in opposition to a U Sports activities all-star workforce by means of the pre-tournament competitors and a gap, 4-0 victory over Finland, the Erie Otters blueliner was arguably Canada’s finest participant.

Filling his spot on the backend will likely be Sawyer Mynio, a third-round Vancouver Canucks choose who has to this point watched the motion from a seat within the press field.

Additionally anticipated to decorate for Sunday’s must-win recreation in opposition to Germany is ahead Carson Rehkoph, a Seattle Kraken second-round choice who has scored 72 objectives in his previous 87 video games within the Ontario Hockey League.

“Massive damage, clearly, an enormous blow to our workforce,” Workforce Canada administration lead Peter Anholt mentioned in addressing the lack of Schaefer within the foyer of Kanata’s Brookstreet Resort. “However that’s the fantastic thing about Canada in lots of methods. It’s the depth. Mynio will are available, and it’s subsequent man up. We’re going to wish some higher performances out of some guys on our again finish, and we really feel we’ve received the folks again there to do it.

“The factor about Schaef is he performs play so properly … He skates and he makes issues occur. And, you realize what, the subsequent man up goes to must do it for us.”

Article content material

It’s been a tragic previous 12 months for Schaefer, a local of Stoney Creek, Ont., who misplaced his mom to most cancers in February after which noticed the proprietor of his junior workforce, who was an in depth pal, endure a lethal coronary heart assault in December.

One 12 months in the past, his billet mother, Emily Matson, handed away on the age of 42.

Canadian teammates expressed their sorrow for Schaefer, a preferred participant among the many group.

As for the loss on the ice, returning blueliner Oliver Bonk and Schaefer had developed in Canada’s high tandem.

“It’s powerful,” Bonk mentioned of dropping his D-man companion. “I really feel actually dangerous for the man. He’s an excellent child. It’s enjoyable being round him. He’s taking part in superb.

“So it’s undoubtedly a troublesome loss.”

Share this text in your social community