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Bruins say Charlie McAvoy remains hospitalized with infection, ‘significant’ injury
"He remains in the hospital, where he is being treated with IV antibiotics, and his condition is improving.”
The Boston Bruins released an update on the health of defenseman Charlie McAvoy Wednesday, with the Team USA alternate captain still hospitalized while undergoing treatment for both an infection and shoulder injury.
“Charlie McAvoy sustained an injury to his right shoulder acromioclavicular joint in Team USA’s 4 Nations Face-Off game against Finland on February 13,” the team release noted. “He underwent treatment, which was administered by Team USA’s medical staff. Upon returning to Boston, he developed increasing pain, for which he was evaluated by the Boston Bruins’ medical staff.
“After undergoing x-rays, MRIs, and bloodwork, he was diagnosed as having an infection in his right shoulder, as well as a significant injury to his AC joint. He underwent an irrigation and debridement procedure at Massachusetts General Hospital on February 18. He remains in the hospital, where he is being treated with IV antibiotics, and his condition is improving.”
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Wednesday’s statement stands as the latest update from the Bruins, who announced on Tuesday morning that McAvoy was ruled out for Thursday’s 4 Nations Face-off championship game against Canada after being hospitalized to treat an “upper-body injury”.
The Bruins’ latest statement did not offer a recovery timeline for McAvoy, who was expected to be a defensive pillar for Boston as it tried to claw back into playoff positioning following the 4 Nations break.
The Bruins’ announcement falls in line with a report from Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli on Tuesday night — which noted that McAvoy is expected to miss weeks of action due to his current ailment.
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“McAvoy, 27, was hospitalized on Monday night after sources indicated he had severe pain from an infection that developed stemming from a relatively minor “upper-body” injury,” Seravalli wrote. “The infection required urgent medical attention to stabilize the infection and stop the spread with antibiotics, followed by a procedure to scrape it out and flush it clean.
“The result of the procedure will keep McAvoy sidelined on a week-to-week basis until the area can heal.”
McAvoy appeared to be injured in the third period of Team USA’s win over Finland last week, with a cross-check from Joel Armia slamming his shoulder into the post following a scrum.
Even with that apparent shoulder injury, McAvoy was a force in Saturday’s win over Canada in Montreal — doling out several bone-crunching hits against Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby en route to a 3-1 win for Team USA.
Speaking on Tuesday after Boston’s first skate since the break, Bruins interim head coach Joe Sacco acknowledged the risk that comes with players taking part in the international tournament.
“Every team goes into it a little bit on edge about their players,” Sacco noted. “It’s obviously a great tournament, it’s great notoriety, it’s great publicity for the game, for the sport. I think every teams are a little bit nervous when they send their players but it is the game of hockey and things happen. You just hope for the best, pray for the best when they’re out there that those injuries don’t occur.”
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