Team USA is making its first injury replacement ahead of next month’s Winter Olympics.
Anaheim Ducks defenceman Jackson LaCombe was named Wednesday to the Olympic roster to replace Florida Panthers blue-liner Seth Jones, who is out with an upper-body injury.
Jones, 31, suffered the injury during the Winter Classic, where he absorbed a shot up high and was forced to exit the game. Initially, the Panthers and Team USA expected Jones to return before the Olympic break, but he has since been placed on long-term injured reserve.
He was going to be one of only a few newcomers to a group heavily comprised of members of the U.S. 4 Nations Face-Off team that reached the final before losing to Canada.
LaCombe, 25, is in the midst of his third full NHL season, suiting up for 49 games this year. In that span, he’s recorded 31 points (six goals, 25 assists) and averaged 24:26 time on ice per game.
Through 197 NHL games, the Eden Prairie, Minn., native has 91 points.
LaCombe helped the U.S. win the world championships last year for the first time since 1933. His addition to the roster gives the U.S. six left-handed-shooting defencemen and just two righties: Brock Faber and Charlie McAvoy.
Team USA opens their Olympic tournament on Feb. 12 against Latvia.
— With files from the Associated Press
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