Team Canada captain Kirby Dach is out of the World Junior Championship because of an right wrist injury suffered Wednesday night against Russia, Hockey Canada announced.
UPDATE | Canada’s National Junior Team captain Kirby Dach will not participate in the 2021 #WorldJuniors due to a wrist injury.
MORE: https://t.co/zA74T5rTz8 pic.twitter.com/NAkI98tiUy
— Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) December 24, 2020
No official word yet from @HockeyCanada but Kirby Dach is out of the WJC because of the injury suffered yesterday. So Team ???????? loses its captain. CHI doctors still assessing Dach’s injury but he will be missing NHL time as well.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) December 24, 2020
TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie reports that Dach could miss NHL time as well. Blackhawks team physician Dr. Michael Terry says Kirby will return to Chicago Thursday for further evaluation.
A basic fracture generally results in a 4 to 6 week or 6 to 8 week absence but if surgery is required it could be considerably longer than that. But no decision on that has been made yet.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) December 24, 2020
“A basic fracture generally results in a four-to-six week or six-to-eight week absence but if surgery is required it could be considerably longer than that. But no decision on that has been made yet,” McKenzie tweeted.
“Kirby was excited to represent Canada and captain our team at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship, and our players, coaches and staff are all disappointed he will not be able to participate this year,” said senior vice-president of national teams with Hockey Canada Scott Salmond in a news release. “We recognize Kirby’s commitment and leadership and know how eager he was for the opportunity to proudly represent his country at the World Juniors. He was dedicated to his role as captain and contributing to defending our gold medal. We wish Kirby the best and hope for a quick recovery as he looks ahead to getting back on the ice with the Blackhawks.”
Dach went in to check Ilya Safonov in the third period of Canada’s 1-0 win over Russia in their pre-competition game ahead of the tournament. Upon completing the check, Dach grabbed his right arm. He took the glove off his hand and skated to the dressing room and did not finish the game.
Following the game, Canada head coach Andre Tourigny said Dach required X-rays to determine the injury’s severity.
Dach was loaned to Canada by the Blackhawks, who drafted him with the third overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft. He had eight goals and 15 assists in 64 games last season. His participation at the World Juniors also represented his second appearance in an Edmonton bubble.
Dach scored a goal and five assists in nine playoff games during the NHL’s Return-To-Play bubble last summer.
Canada is not permitted to replace Dach’s spot on the roster once they entered the Edmonton.
Canada opens their World Junior Hockey Championship on Boxing Day against Germany.
