McAvoy Injured During Intense Round-Robin Match
Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy was hospitalized following a tough game in the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament, which saw Team USA secure a hard-fought victory over Canada. McAvoy, 27, sustained an upper-body injury during Team USA’s 3-1 win against Canada on February 15, 2025. After the game, the Boston Bruins confirmed McAvoy had been admitted to Massachusetts General Hospital for further testing and evaluation.
In an official statement on February 18, the Bruins revealed, “Charlie was admitted to Massachusetts General Hospital on Monday to undergo testing related to an upper-body injury sustained during the 4 Nations Face-Off. He is currently being evaluated by Boston Bruins Head Team Physician Dr. Peter Asnis.” The team added that McAvoy would not participate in the upcoming rematch between USA and Canada scheduled for Thursday, February 20, in the tournament’s championship game. They assured fans that further updates on his condition would be provided as they became available.
A Game-Changing Hit and the Road to Recovery
The injury occurred during the round-robin portion of the tournament, with McAvoy laying a hard hit on Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid in the first period of Saturday’s game. The 4 Nations Face-Off is an intense, best-on-best competition featuring top-tier national teams from the USA, Canada, Sweden, and Finland. McAvoy’s hit on McDavid was praised for its strategic timing and its impact on the momentum of the game.
Team USA defenseman Zach Werenski, also a key player for the Columbus Blue Jackets, expressed how McAvoy’s hit shifted the tone of the match. “That hit Charlie threw on McDavid was kind of a game-changer,” Werenski said after the game. “He’s great with his size, really good defensively, and I thought that was a perfectly timed hit to get our team going in the right direction.”
Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk echoed the sentiment, noting that McAvoy’s hit was one of the defining moments of the game. “That also is a message-sending moment, probably one of the plays of the game,” Tkachuk said. “They just scored a goal, the building was rocking, and Charlie comes there and pops McDavid, like one of the hardest hits I’ve seen.”
Team USA Faces Injuries Ahead of Championship Game
While McAvoy’s injury is significant, Team USA has faced other challenges with injuries to key players. Tkachuk, who was also injured during the game against Canada, did not play in Team USA’s February 17 match against Sweden. The team also missed the contributions of Auston Matthews and Brady Tkachuk due to injuries.
The rivalry between USA and Canada will continue in the tournament’s championship game, set for Thursday, February 20, at Boston’s TD Garden. Despite injuries, both the Tkachuk brothers and Matthews are expected to return for the final showdown.
As the Bruins and Team USA await further news on McAvoy’s condition, fans remain hopeful that the star player will recover quickly from his injury and return to the ice soon.
