BOSTON - US defensive Charlie McAvoy will miss the 4-country championship game between the United States and Canada on Thursday.

McAvoy was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital for testing related to an upper body injury, the Boston Bruins said in a statement Tuesday. McAvoy was injured during a confrontation in four countries and is currently being evaluated by Bruins Chief Physician Dr. Peter Asnis.

Team USA and Pittsburgh Penguins coach Mike Sullivan announced that the defending Norris Trophy champion Quinn Hughes announced. According to the tournament rules, Hughes is the elder brother of Team USA and New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes, who is only eligible to participate in the game if Team USA is injured again in defense.

McAvoy's father-in-law Sullivan said in a press conference that McAvoy's injury was a "hard" loss, but that only increased demand for others in the roster.

"He's doing very well in this game," Sullivan said. "When you lose his talent, they're not easy to replace. From a personal point of view, what this game means to him and He looks forward to the significance in this regard.

Hughes had 14 goals and 59 points for the Vancouver Canucks, and the average of ice time this season was over 25:18, initially a team of the U.S. but had to be due to tilting injuries quit.

Canada used an injury replacement player protocol earlier in the tournament, when it called Dallas star's defensive player Thomas Harley. Harley is eligible for Canada after losing Vegas Golden Shea Theeodor for the rest of the game, except Colorado Avalanche defender Cale Makar due to illness , he missed his first game against the United States.

"It could be good for the game. There is no doubt. Quinn Hughes is a special player," said Canadian coach Jon Cooper. "Unfortunately, he was in the beginning Injured."

Cooper confirmed that the only way for injured players to join the roster is if a team has a brief risk, which means the Americans will need one of the six remaining defensive players to make Canada’s game against Hughes unavailable .

Team USA and Golden Knights defender Noah Hanikin has known McAvoy for many years. Like future American teammates like Jack Eichel, Dylan Larkin, Matthew Tkachuk and Zach Werenski , they are part of the U.S. National Team Development Program.

"There are a lot of things (the United States will miss it). His character, the way he is in the room, the leadership." "He is such an amazing teammate. The physical condition he brings to the team and every time he's The effort to change. It's infectious for any group he's involved in, and we'll miss that very much on Thursday."

McAvoy was 2-1 lost to Sweden by the United States on Monday at TD Garden in Boston. The United States is already eligible for the championship game, and he won the game against Finland before defeating rival Canada in the second game.

The 27-year-old is one of the few players who missed a match that doesn't matter to Sweden. The group also includes Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews and Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk who missed the Swedish game due to injury prevention measures.

The United States plays the New York Rangers forward Chris Kreider and Ottawa Senator Jake Sanderson in a game, who also witnesses forward Brady Takachuk Tkachuk) was injured in the first stage and suffered a lower injury. He returned a 14-second turnover in the first phase, but was later excluded.

Sullivan said he expects Matthews to be able to compete in the championship game. ESPN's Emily Kaplan reported that the Tkachuk brothers will also compete on Thursday.

ESPN's Greg Wysshynski contributed to the report.