An injured Charlie McAvoy reads Team USA starting lineup before 4 Nations championship
“Free as a bird,” McAvoy said on social media Thursday after leaving Mass. General Hospital.
Charlie McAvoy was not able to join his USA teammates on the ice at TD Garden for Thursday’s 4 Nations Face-off championship game against Canada.
But the Team USA alternate captain and Bruins defenseman still made his presence felt at TD Garden — just hours after being discharged from Mass. General Hospital.
McAvoy, who was hospitalized on Monday night to treat both an infection in his right shoulder and what the Bruins’ medical team deemed a “significant” injury to his AC joint, joined his teammates in the dressing room ahead of puck drop to read the starting lineup for the US.
Introduced as a “special guest” by Team USA head coach (and his father in-law) Mike Sullivan, McAvoy — sporting a sling on his right arm — earned a round of applause from his teammates after entering the room.
The 27-year-old defenseman read off the starting lineup of Jack Eichel, Matthew Tkachuk, Brady Tkachuk, Jaccob Slavin, Brock Faber and Connor Hellebuyck before being embraced by his teammates.
It’s been a tumultuous couple of days for McAvoy, who made a sizable impact for Team USA in their win over Canada on Saturday night in Montreal — headlined by several bone-crunching hits against Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby.
But McAvoy was ruled out of Monday’s round-robin matchup against Sweden before eventually being hospitalized later that night. The Bruins ruled him out of Thursday’s title game the following morning, with McAvoy’s recovery timeline still unclear.
“He’s obviously disappointed that he won’t have the ability to participate in the championship game. This tournament means a lot to him. He’s a very competitive guy,” Sullivan said Tuesday. “Obviously, there’s a personal note with respect to my relationship with him and I’m disappointed for him because first and foremost, he’s a great kid and he’s a terrific hockey player, and I know this meant a lot to him.
“So, under all the circumstances, he’s in good spirits. I know he’s disappointed. He wanted the opportunity to compete in the championship game.”
On Thursday afternoon, McAvoy took to social media to announce his exit from the hospital — posting a photo of his car stereo sy stem playing the Lynyrd Skynyrd song “Free Bird” — Team USA’s goal song during 4 Nations play.
“Free as a bird,” McAvoy posted.
Midway through the third period of Thursday’s game, McAvoy drew a cheer from the TD Garden crowd after being featured on the video board.
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