Update: Aaron Ekblad is dealing with a “mild concussion,” according to reporters including ESPN’s Craig Custance.
Team North America GM Peter Chiarelli would only say he’s day-to-day during Sportsnet’s second intermission of tonight’s game against Russia.
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Tough news for North America and the Florida Panthers: Aaron Eklbad cannot play against Russia because of an upper-body injury.
North America at least has a nice option in reserve, as Jacob Trouba takes Ekblad’s place.
The belief (according to onlookers including Postmedia’s Michael Traikos) is that Ekblad was injured thanks to a Leo Komarov hit. You can actually see the moment of contact in the photo above, as Ekblad is almost lost in the mass of humanity.
Stephanie “My Regular Face” also has the GIF of the hit that may have hurt Ekblad:
Neither Team North America nor the Panthers have provided any additional information regarding how serious Ekblad’s upper-body injury is, at least beyond sidelining for at least this game.
If it’s significant, this is another bullet point for GMs who may argue against the World Cup of Hockey becoming a fixture.
