Faceoff Factor

The WC: Playing for your country has its risks.

Ashley Gallant | International Competitions

May 8, 06:47 PM | Hype this story!

As I reported earlier today, USA’s captain Jeff Halpern is out of the tournament after sustaining an injury in Tuesday’s 5-4 loss to Canada.

It’s not uncommon to get injured in hockey, whether it be in the NHL or in an international tournament, so NHL teams definitely take a risk when they allow their players to suit up for their home countries. Most of the time it’s not a big deal, but this injury to Halpern is definitely not good news for the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Halpern didn’t just tweak his groin or jam his finger – he completely wrecked his right knee after a collision that sent him into the boards and will be out 6-8 months.

The damage includes a ruptured ACL, a Grade 3 MCL sprain and a little tear in the lateral meniscus. He will likely wait 4-6 weeks for his MCL to heal before having reconstructive surgery on his ACL.

This injury will have people ask whether NHL clubs should allow their players to play in international tournaments given the risks. They invest millions of dollars in their star players and want them healthy. What use is a star goaltender like Dominik Hasek if he’s sidelined with a groin injury sustained at the Olympics?

On the flip side, these international tournaments like the World Championships and the Olympics are big deals to North Americans and Europeans alike. One could argue that there is no greater honour than playing for your country, and winning gold at the World Championships and the Olympics is no small victory. Many players would jump at the chance of playing in these tournaments over frolicking in the waves with their girlfriends (yes, that is a shot at you Dion Phaneuf).

If a player’s NHL season is over, why not give him the green light to play in the WC? After all, the chances of him sustaining a serious injury are slim, and he will only be happy to suit up for his country.