With less than three weeks remaining until the men’s hockey tournament at the Olympics in Milan, several top contenders are facing injury concerns. One of these uncertainties was clarified on Friday as Bo Horvat from Canada returned to practice after missing 14 of the New York Islanders’ last 18 games due to a lower-body injury. Horvat, who had been sidelined for nine consecutive games, was on track to recover in time for the Olympics.
Having maintained an impressive scoring streak leading up to the roster deadline on Dec. 31, Horvat secured a forward position. Despite not participating in the 4 Nations Face-Off last year, the 30-year-old center was selected, and Hockey Canada’s general manager, Doug Armstrong, was kept informed of his progress.
Similarly, goaltender Darcy Kuemper also made an early recovery from an injury scare. However, uncertainty surrounds Brayden Point, a key playmaker for Canada, who has been sidelined since injuring his right leg during a game in mid-January. Point’s status remains week to week, with potential replacements including Sam Bennett, Wyatt Johnston, and Connor Bedard.
In a recent development, Seth Jones of the U.S. team was replaced on the Olympic roster due to injury, with Jackson LaCombe stepping in. LaCombe, known for his dynamic play and strong skating skills, joins a group of familiar faces from the world championships, including Tage Thompson, Zach Werenski, Clayton Keller, and Jeremy Swayman.
Sweden, on the other hand, faces challenges as key players like Leo Carlsson and Jonas Brodin are ruled out due to long-term injuries. While Victor Hedman is expected to recover in time, doubts linger over the availability of Gabriel Landeskog, William Nylander, and Oliver Ekman-Larsson, all dealing with various injuries.
The upcoming Olympic hockey tournament promises to be a mix of talent and resilience as teams navigate through injury setbacks to compete for the coveted gold medal.