Milan, Italy – Canada will proceed to the Olympic men’s hockey final without defenseman Josh Morrissey, head coach Jon Cooper confirmed Saturday, despite captain Sidney Crosby’s continued presence with the team as he recovers from an injury.
Morrissey has been sidelined since Canada’s opening game against Czechia on February 12th, suffering an upper-body injury. While he has participated in team practices, Cooper stated he is not fit to contribute at the level required for Sunday’s final.
“We’d love to have Josh in the lineup, but if you’re not physically capable of playing… that’s something I’ve noticed with these players – and even previously injured players like Brayden Point and Anthony Cirelli – when it comes to playing for the flag, no one wants to be a detriment,” Cooper said. “If they’re not capable of playing at their peak, they don’t want to hinder the nation. They understand what’s at stake here. Josh wouldn’t be able to contribute at the level he normally can, and that’s why we made this decision.”
This marks the second consecutive year Morrissey has been unavailable for a championship final. He was ill during the 4 Nations Face-Off final against the United States last year. Cooper expressed his disappointment for the defenseman, calling him “a great kid and an incredible hockey player.”
Crosby, who sustained an injury during the tournament, has remained close to his teammates, offering input both to the team as a whole and to individual players regarding his observations from the ice.
“He’s been a positive factor,” said Connor McDavid, who captained the team in Crosby’s absence during the semifinal. “He contributed in the last game even though he didn’t play. As the leader he is.”
McDavid is expected to continue as captain should Crosby be unable to play in the final, as per International Ice Hockey Federation rules requiring a designated captain for each game. “We wanted to give him (Crosby) the chance to play, one more game, and we were able to do that, and now we’ll see,” McDavid said.
Canada dismantled France 10-2 on Sunday, securing their place in the final. The tournament began on February 11th, marking the first time NHL players have participated in the Olympics since the 2014 Games in Russia.
