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Kirby Dach to miss 4-5 months after suffering wrist injury in world juniors pre-tournament game

arun srinivasan
Contributing Writer
·1 min read
Canada's Kirby Dach (7) is checked by Russia's Ilya Safonov (24) during the third period of a game leading up to the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships, Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2020, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)
Chicago Blackhawks forward and Team Canada captain Kirby Dach will miss 4-5 months to recover from wrist surgery. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)

Chicago Blackhawks forward Kirby Dach will miss 4-5 months after undergoing wrist surgery, the team confirmed Monday.

Dach, who was named captain of Canada’s world juniors team, suffered a wrist fracture during a pre-tournament game against Russia on Dec. 23, after colliding with Ilya Safonov. The 19-year-old was expected to play an instrumental role in Canada’s pursuit of a second consecutive gold medal.

Selected third overall in the 2019 NHL Draft, Dach cracked the Blackhawks’ roster out of camp and posted eight goals and 23 points in 64 regular season contests, adding a goal and six points in nine games during the NHL’s return to play.

Dach has enthusiastically rooted for his Canadian teammates since suffering the injury, while several Canadian players have since referred to him as their captain, even though the remaining Canadian assistants are taking turns wearing the ‘C’ in his absence, per tournament rules.

Dach’s recovery from wrist surgery may span the entire upcoming NHL season, but he remains eligible to return.

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