Canada suffered a severe setback.
Alex Pietrangelo to miss 4 Nations Face-Off scrimmages. Bob Kupbens/Icon Sportswire
Canadian Alex Pietrangelo, 35, will not represent Canada in the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament, the defenseman’s NHL club Vegas Golden Knights announced on Sunday.
According to the release, the top defender will be sidelined citing health reasons. He will stay to take care of his ailments and prepare for the rest of the season.
Pietrangelo is the first player to announce he will miss the tournament.
Pietrangelo was one of the most experienced players on Canada’s big-name team. Only Sidney Crosby, 37, and Brad Marchand, 36, were older than him.
The big Canadian, known as a versatile defender, has played in 47 regular season games this season with an output of 3+22.
In his successful career, Konkari has won, among other things, two Stanley Cups (St. Louis Blues 2019 & Vegas Golden Knights 2023) and Olympic gold (2014).
Pietrangelo is originally St. Louis Blues’ 2008 first-round pick. The sheet music called the defender the fourth player of the whole booking event.