LAKE PLACID, N.Y. -- Minnesota Wild prospect Alex Tuch, who sustained a knee injury in the first period of an exhibition game at the USA Hockey National Junior Evaluation Camp, will not play in any of the United States' three remaining games.
Tuch was injured in the first period of a 10-3 loss to Finland on Monday at Lake Placid Olympic Center's 1980 Herb Brooks Arena. He will remain with the U.S. for the duration of the camp that concludes Saturday.
Tuch, a 6-foot-4, 220-pound right-handed shot, had 14 goals and 28 points in 37 games for Boston College in Hockey East last season. He was selected No. 18 by the Wild in the 2014 NHL Draft.
"We're not going to push it; we're not trying to have him gut it out," USA national junior team general manager Jim Johannson said. "The reality is he can probably get better medical treatment here than sitting at home. We have the trainers and medical staff here. I would say there's a remote chance he might skate but he won't play in any more games."
Tuch doesn't believe he'll be off the ice very long. Since the injury, he's been walking under his own power with an ice pack wrapped on his knee.
"I haven't missed a hockey game in almost five years," Tuch said. "That was when I was 14-years-old. It's crazy. I'm not used to being injured and it stinks not being able to skate with the team but they want to keep me here and be with my teammates. I'm rehabbing here so I'm taking it day-by-day and hopefully I'll feel better by the end of the week."
The evaluation camp will help determine the final roster for the United States at the 2016 World Junior Championship in Finland, to be played from Dec. 26, 2015, through Jan. 5, 2016. Tuch had one goal and two points in five games at the 2015 WJC in Montreal and Toronto.
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