EDMONTON, Alta. – Hockey Canada announced Thursday that National Junior Team captain Kirby Dach (Fort Saskatchewan, Alta./Chicago, NHL) will miss the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship with a wrist injury.
Dach, who was selected third overall by Chicago in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, suffered the injury during the third period of Canada’s pre-tournament win over Russia on Wednesday. He will return to Chicago to undergo further examination by team doctors.
“Kirby was excited to represent Canada and captain our team at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship, and our players, coaches and staff are all disappointed he will not be able to participate this year,” said Scott Salmond (Creston, B.C.), senior vice-president of national teams with Hockey Canada. “We recognize Kirby’s commitment and leadership and know how eager he was for the opportunity to proudly represent his country at the World Juniors. He was dedicated to his role as captain and contributing to defending our gold medal. We wish Kirby the best and hope for a quick recovery as he looks ahead to getting back on the ice with the Blackhawks.”
Dach was set to wear the Maple Leaf at the World Juniors for the first time. Internationally, he won a gold medal with Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team at the 2018 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, where he collected seven points, and suited up for Team Canada Black at the 2017 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.
The 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship begins on Christmas Day with three games before Canada kicks off its tournament schedule on Dec. 26 against Germany at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT. TSN and RDS, the official broadcast partners of Hockey Canada, will broadcast all 28 tournament games. TSN Radio will also provide comprehensive tournament coverage, including all Team Canada games through to the gold medal game.
For more information on Canada’s National Junior Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca or follow along on Facebook, Twitter and Twitter.com/HC_WJC.