Canadian defenceman Matthew Schaefer is set to miss the remainder of the world junior hockey championship after suffering an injury in the team’s 3-2 shootout loss to Latvia, Hockey Canada announced Saturday.
The injury occurred early in the first period of Friday’s loss. Schaefer slammed his shoulder into the Latvia net and fell into the boards after he drove to the net and had a shot stopped. He appeared to be favouring his left arm and immediately went to the locker room.
Hockey Canada ruled him out prior to the second period. After Canada’s 3-2 loss, coach Dave Cameron told reporters he had no update on Schaefer.
Schaefer, 17, had a goal and an assist in Canada’s 4-0 tournament-opening win over Finland on Thursday.
The second-youngest player on the team, Schaefer is in a projected four-way battle with forwards Porter Martone, James Hagens and Michael Misa to be the top pick at next year’s NHL Draft. Martone (Canada) and Hagens (U.S.) also are playing in the world juniors.
The native of Stoney Creek, Ont. has seven goals and 15 assists for 22 points in 17 games with the OHL’s Erie Otters this season.
The Otters picked Schaefer first overall in the 2023 OHL draft. He missed the first nine games of this season while recovering from mononucleosis.
Defenceman Sawyer Mynio is set to take his place in the lineup after being registered by Canada Friday night following Schaefer’s injury.
Mynio, 19, is a 2023 third-round draft pick of the Vancouver Canucks. In 18 WHL games with the Seattle Thunderbirds this season, the Kamloops, B.C. native has five goals and 14 assists.
He’ll be making his Team Canada debut should he lace up for Canada’s game against Germany on Sunday.