HALIFAX – According to the Canadian agency reports, Team Canada’s four-goal scorer Eric Staal has left Team Canada on Tuesday after the death of his grandfather.
The 23-year-old travelled back to Ontario and will attend the funeral on Wednesday. Staal will miss the quarterfinal match-up against Norway the same day but is expected to return for the possible semi-final game on Friday in Quebec City.
Canada added Sam Gagner as a replacement player. Gagner was practicing with the team before but hasn’t been registered until today and will play his first World Championship game tomorrow. The 18-year-old was the number six draft pick of the Edmonton Oilers last year and had 49 scoring points in his rookie season.