Canada faced a major defensive setback in their 3-1 loss to the United States at the 4 Nations Face-Off on Saturday, as both Cale Makar and Shea Theodore were unavailable. Makar, dealing with an illness, was a game-time decision but ultimately did not dress. Theodore, meanwhile, is out for the remainder of the tournament with an upper-body injury sustained against Sweden earlier in the week.
To fill Makar’s absence, Canada called up Thomas Harley from the Dallas Stars, who logged 18:17 of ice time, contributing three blocked shots, two shots, and one hit. Travis Sanheim, originally a healthy scratch, stepped into Theodore’s role, bringing a more defensive presence compared to Theodore’s offensive skillset.
Canada D Shea Theodore has been ruled out for the remainder of the #4Nations tournament after sustaining an injury against Sweden.
(HT @reporterchris) pic.twitter.com/yJDKuY3LS4
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) February 13, 2025
Makar, who led all Canadian skaters in ice time with 28:06 in the opener against Sweden, participated in the morning skate and initially expressed optimism about playing. That feeling quickly faded though unfortunately, as head coach Jon Cooper emphasized caution, stating, “We’ll never put Cale in harm’s way.” Canada is hopeful that Makar can return for their crucial matchup against Finland on Monday.
Theodore’s injury occurred early in the second period against Sweden after a collision with Adrian Kempe, forcing Canada to play the remainder of the game with only five defensemen. His absence presents a challenge, as he was a key piece of Canada’s top power-play unit and defensive pairings.
Harley’s arrival in Montreal was met with enthusiasm from his teammates, with Connor McDavid noting the dedication required to join the team on such short notice. “If there’s any question of what this tournament means to guys, Harley is proof of that,” McDavid said. “He was a few hours away from being in Cabo, and now he’s here ready to help us win.”
Despite missing two key defensemen, Canada held their own in a physical contest that saw an early onslaught of fights. In the end, without Makar’s elite puck-moving ability and Theodore’s smooth skating, the team struggled to generate sustained offensive pressure. The Canada vs. USA game had the potential to feature the world’s two best defenceman in Makar and Quinn Hughes, but neither were available.
The unanimous two best defensemen in the world:
— Cale Makar
— Quinn HughesNeither can play tonight with their nations playing each other. pic.twitter.com/Q87boad6BH
— Big Head Hockey (@BigHeadHcky) February 16, 2025
With a must-win game against Finland looming, Canada will look to adjust their defensive pairings and hope for Makar’s return. As McDavid put it, “It’s like a Game 7 for us now. We need to find a way.”