UFA, RUSSIA - Jonathan Drouin's status for the World Junior Hockey Championship is in doubt after the Halifax Moosehead winger sustained an injury during Tuesday's practice. Hockey Canada registered only 22 players for the tournament after Drouin suffered what the team termed "a mild charleyhorse."
"Canada has one available spot on its roster and can register a player up until two hours before a game for him to be eligible to play," the team said in a statement posted on its Twitter account (@HC_TeamCanada).
Drouin will be reassessed on Wednesday before Canada opens the tournament against Germany.
The injury appeared to happen near the end of the on-ice workout when Drouin was involved in an awkward collision during a drill. After getting up he skated gingerly from the attacking zone to the defensive blue line and was seen wincing as he stretched out his leg. He was hunched over on his stick and drew the attention of assistant coach Mario Duhamel, who skated over to check on him. Drouin then took part in the end-of-practice stretch before quickly leaving the ice.
Since the selection camp ended, Drouin has been part of Canada's second line with centre Ryan Strome and right winger Brett Ritchie. He has also been part of the second power-play unit.
Canada is already down one forward after the IIHF suspended Boone Jenner for three games due to a late hit in Saturday's pre-tournament game against Sweden.
