Breaking: Tavares OUT for Team Canada

Things have quickly gone from bad to worse in a matter of minutes.

Maple Leafs’ John Tavares sustained an oblique injury in practice with Team Canada ahead of the World Hockey Championship and will return to Toronto for further evaluation.

Leafs centre John Tavares sustained an oblique injury in preparation for the World Championships. Tavares will return to Toronto for further evaluation by the Leafs medical staff and a further update will follow in the coming days.
— Leafs PR (@LeafsPR) May 9, 2019

He is therefore out of the tournament as he will need to focus on rehabilitation.

Tavares out of World Championship with an oblique injury. Leaves Canada with 3 open spots on roster
— Kevin Gibson (@GibShow) May 9, 2019

The Maple Leafs said a further update on the star centre will follow in the coming days.

Brent Wallace had noticed earlier that Tavares had left practice early and had been replaced by Tyler Bertuzzi on the top line alongside Sean Couturier and Sam Reinhart.

On Tuesday, Team Canada beat Austria 7-5 in a world hockey championship tuneup game. Canada plays its first game at the 2019 world championship Friday against Finland at Kosice, Slovakia.

Breaking: Tavares OUT for Team Canada

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