Josh Morrissey Ruled Out For Gold Medal Game, Cause For Concern For Jets Fans

Winnipeg Jets defenseman has officially been ruled out for Team Canada’s gold medal game against the United States on Sunday morning, Hockey Canada confirmed Saturday.

The announcement brings an end to any remaining hope that the top-pairing blueliner would be able to return before the conclusion of the tournament.

What was initially believed to be a minor issue that Morrissey could quickly recover from never progressed as expected. Although he returned to the ice for light skating, he has not appeared in a game since the tournament opener against Czechia, and Canada has been forced to move forward without one of its most important all-situations defensemen.

There was, however, encouraging news on the Canadian front. Head coach said captain could be available for the gold medal game. Crosby has been sidelined since suffering a lower-body injury in the quarterfinals, and his return would provide a massive emotional and on-ice boost for Canada in its marquee matchup with the Americans.

For Jets fans, the Morrissey update is a difficult one. There had been hope the 29-year-old would rejoin the lineup, finish the Olympics on a high note and carry that momentum into the stretch drive of the NHL season.

Instead, his timeline for a return to Winnipeg remains unclear. With the nature of the injury still not fully known, it is possible Morrissey may need additional recovery time before rejoining the Jets, with a more concrete update likely to come once he is back in Canada.

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