Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy recently opened up about the health scare that kept him out of the 4 Nations Face-Off championship game. What started as an AC joint injury in his right shoulder turned into something much more serious—a life threatening infection that required hospitalization and surgery. As McAvoy gets back to form he’s looking back on the experience and forward to helping the Bruins moving forward.
The Infection That Changed Everything
McAvoy initially had an AC joint injury in his right shoulder, a common injury for athletes. But complications arose when it got infected. Speaking to The Athletic McAvoy explained how bad it got.
“The infection was moving pretty fast after that. It got very serious, very quick. Another thing I’m trying to leave in the past, really. It was scary. It was scary on me. Scary on my family, mostly.”
The infection got out of control and he had to go to the hospital and have surgery. He’s out of the hospital and recovering now but the experience left a mark on him and his loved ones.
“I think it’s a win on both fronts,” McAvoy said. “I’m just happy to be here. I’m happy to be with the guys, to see guys, to be seen. I wish a lot of things would have been different coming down the stretch here. I really do. It hasn’t been easy.”
Bruins’ Season on the Brink
Only 9 games left in the season and the Bruins are on the outside looking in—a rare position for a team used to success. McAvoy’s absence has been felt on the ice and there’s a big void on the back end.
He practiced with the team Sunday but admitted he’s not ready for game action. His return timeline is unknown and there’s no guarantee he’ll be back before the season ends.
“It’s tough to lead from the sidelines when you’re not in the group and you’re not there,” McAvoy said. “Moving forward, probably our biggest goal is how we get it back, what we do and how we leave it better than we found it.”
Commitment to the Bruins
Despite the challenges McAvoy is committed to the Bruins. He knows he and David Pastrňák have to help get the team back to being a winning team.
“We know what it looks like and what it feels like to be part of the teams that are winning teams, the special teams. It’s right there. We just have to get it back.”
McAvoy knows what it means to wear the Bruins jersey and what it means to the fans, the organization and his teammates. His leadership even from the sidelines is still inspiring to those around him.
Supporting the Team Through Recovery
McAvoy isn’t cleared for game action yet but he’s been making an appearance on social media to support the team. His presence at practice and in the locker room is a morale boost as the Bruins try to save the season.
McAvoy’s journey shows how fast injuries can snowball and how important timely medical care is. Now focused on recovery he’s determined to get back to 100% and be ready when the Bruins need him most.
A Leader Ready to Rebound
For McAvoy, this has been a humbling experience but it’s also made him more determined. The road to recovery will be long but his commitment to the Bruins and their future is unwavering.
“I’m just glad to be here,” McAvoy said. “I want to help this team get back to where it’s supposed to be.”
As the Bruins head into the final stretch of the season, McAvoy’s leadership—on or off the ice—will be key to the direction of the franchise. For now, we can all just be glad one of our best players is doing everything he can to come back stronger than ever.
