Calgary Flames' Sean Monahan falls to the ice after trying to change direction and keep control of the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Arizona Coyotes, Monday, March 28, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. Team North America will be without Calgary Flames forward Monahan for the upcoming World Cup of Hockey.THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Ross D. Franklin
Republished September 02, 2016 - 3:20 PM
Original Publication Date September 02, 2016 - 2:45 PM
CALGARY - Team North America will be without Calgary Flames forward Sean Monahan for the upcoming World Cup of Hockey.
Flames general manager Brad Treliving said in a release that Monahan sustained a back strain during pre-season training, and "as a result will not be able to participate in the upcoming World Cup of Hockey with Team North America."
"We anticipate that this is not a long term issue and plan on having Sean healthy and ready for the start of our training camp," he added.
Monahan had 27 goals and 36 assists in 81 games with the Flames last year. In three seasons with Calgary, the native of Brampton, Ont., has 80 goals and 79 assists in 237 games.
The 21-year-old was expected to be one of the leaders on the North American team, which features players age 23 years and younger as of Oct. 1 from Canada and the United States.
Monahan signed a seven-year contract extension with Calgary worth a reported US$44.6 million last month.
Florida Panthers forward Vincent Trocheck will replace Monahan. The 23-year-old Trocheck has 37 goals and 46 assists in 146 career games.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2016