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Bruins’ Charlie McAvoy named alternate captain for Team USA at ‘4 Nations’ tournament
Charlie McAvoy will join a Team USA leadership group that also includes Auston Matthews and Matthew Tkachuk.
It’s been an eventful week for Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy.
Just a few days after McAvoy and his wife, Kiley, welcomed the birth of their son, Rhys, the Bruins blueliner received the green light on Thursday to play — returning to the ice after missing the last seven games with an upper-body injury.
Just a few hours before puck drop against the Jets, McAvoy received some more good news. The 27-year-old skater was named as an alternate captain for Team USA at the upcoming NHL 4 Nations Face-Off tournament.
McAvoy, who also serves as an alternate captain for the Bruins, will share the title on Team USA with a familiar foe in Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk. Toronto Maple Leafs star center will captain Team USA in the tournament, which will be held in Boston and Montreal from Feb. 12 to Feb. 20.
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McAvoy is no stranger to representing his country, as he’s taken home gold with Team USA during the 2014 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, 2015 IIHF Under-18 World Championship, and the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship. He also won bronze at the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship.
The Bruins’ blueliner is expected to be one of the top talents on a stacked Team USA, which will also feature Jeremy Swayman.
“It’s an absolute honor,” McAvoy said on TNT last month when asked about playing for Team USA. “I think some of my favorite memories that I’ve had in hockey have been wearing a USA hockey jersey.
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“It’s something you dream of — kind of side by side there with wanting to play in the NHL, wanting to win a Stanley Cup, all those things. Wanting to be an Olympian, wanting to play World Juniors, all those things. That was it for me, and I can’t wait for this opportunity.”
Elsewhere in the tournament field, Brad Marchand will represent Team Canada, while Elias Lindholm will skate for Sweden.
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