Canada’s win hides an issue that could affect the upcoming game for the team.
Jon Cooper, the head coach, said that veteran defenseman Josh Morrissey will not be playing in Team Canada’s next Olympic game against France on Sunday. Although Morrissey is likely not going to miss the entire tournament, his situation raises concerns for Canada’s defense as they try to keep their winning streak in Milan.
Morrissey had to leave Thursday’s 5-0 win against Czechia early in the second period. While playing with Colton Parayko on the second pairing, Morrissey spent 7:10 on the ice during 13 shifts before heading to the locker room. This left Canada with only six defensemen for the rest of the game. Even with this issue, Canada went on to win, finishing at the top of Group A after beating Switzerland 5-1 on Friday.
Jon Cooper says Brad Marchand will draw back in Sunday
Josh Morrissey will remain out against 🇫🇷 @TSN_Sports
— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) February 13, 2026
Even though the team did well without him, Morrissey’s missing presence shows how important it is to have depth and flexibility in defense. Cooper announced that experienced forward Brad Marchand will be back for the game on Sunday, bringing some steadiness and skill to the Canadian team. However, they will need to make some changes again now that Morrissey can’t play.
Currently, Team Canada is doing very well in the group stage, but Morrissey’s absence reminds us that even teams with lots of talented players must adapt when key members are out. His return will be a big help, but the team has to stay focused and disciplined to deal with the challenges ahead without him on the roster.
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