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![\"FRED](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/4002698_web1_CP175657327.jpg\")
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FRED GREENSLADE \/ THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES<\/p>\n
Winnipeg Jets defenceman Josh Morrissey has been ruled out for Sunday\u2019s gold medal clash between Canada and the United States.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u201cJosh, in the end, he just wouldn\u2019t be able to perform at what he could. We made the decision.\u201d<\/p>\n
It would be a difficult enough pill to swallow for Morrissey in a vacuum. But considering he also missed last February\u2019s 4 Nations Face-Off Final with illness \u2014 also against the United States \u2014 the timing feels downright cruel.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh my gosh. That\u2019s a tough one,\u201d said Cooper.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is (the second time) in a year now we\u2019ve had the same conversation and I feel for him. He\u2019s just an all-world kid and hell of a hockey player.\u201d<\/p>\n
Earlier this week, Morrissey appeared to be nearing a return \u2014 particularly after Tuesday\u2019s practice, where he was flying around the rink and skating in his usual second-pairing spot alongside Colton Parayko. Morrissey spoke with reporters afterward, saying he felt great and hoped to play in Wednesday\u2019s quarterfinal.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust taking it day-by-day. A good practice here. Just trying to get ready for the rest of the tournament the best I can,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Cooper, who had told reporters after the first game \u201cby no means are his Olympics over\u201d clearly liked what he saw as well.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was a big thing for him to get out here today. In my opinion he looked great. But (no decision) until after I talk to him,\u201d said Cooper.<\/p>\n
Yet when the puck dropped Wednesday against Czechia, Morrissey was not in the lineup.<\/p>\n
He skated with the team again Thursday, but left the ice as soon as the formal session ended, not staying out for extra work with most of his teammates. Curiously, team PR officials initially planned to make him available to the media, only to reverse course.<\/p>\n
Morrissey was again sidelined for Friday\u2019s semifinal against Finland, with Cooper still classifying him as day-to-day.<\/p>\n
Clearly, there was some kind of setback. Asked Saturday to clarify the nature of the injury, Cooper declined.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo. With all due respect to Winnipeg,\u201d he replied.<\/p>\n
During that opening game against Czechia, Morrissey\u2019s left leg clipped the right leg of forward Martin Necas on his final shift of the first period, causing him to labour on the way back to the bench. Morrissey returned to start the second, took one more shift, then grimaced as he left the ice \u2014 this time for good.<\/p>\n
However, with the injury classified as upper-body, it\u2019s unclear whether either play factored into his current status.<\/p>\n
Morrissey likely won\u2019t be the only member of the Jets to miss the gold medal game. U.S. forward Kyle Connor is expected to be a healthy scratch for a fourth straight game, barring a late-breaking injury or illness to one of his teammates.<\/p>\n
Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck will get the start in goal for the Americans.<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t NATHAN DENETTE \/ THE CANADIAN PRESS<\/p>\n Team Canada captain Sidney Crosby has not been ruled out for Sunday\u2019s final.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n In other Canadian injury news, captain Sidney Crosby has not been ruled out for Sunday\u2019s final. Crosby was injured in Wednesday\u2019s quarterfinal and was unable to play in Friday\u2019s semifinal.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll see. I watched him skate today. I haven\u2019t spoken to him yet. We\u2019re gonna meet tonight and leave a determination of what\u2019s gonna happen tomorrow,\u201d Cooper said Saturday.<\/p>\n \u201cAgain, he won\u2019t put himself in harm\u2019s way and he\u2019s not gonna put the team in harm\u2019s way. Obviously we\u2019d love to have him. That determination will be made tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n Asked whether Crosby could dress even if he\u2019s well below 100 per cent and severely limited, Cooper was emphatic.<\/p>\n \u201cNo. No. It\u2019s too important. We don\u2019t want to have somebody in there as an inspiration when we could have a player that could be capable of helping,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cYou never know if guys are gonna get hurt in the game. He wouldn\u2019t want to do that either.\u201d<\/p>\n www.winnipegfreepress.com\/mikemcintyre<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t Mike McIntyre Mike McIntyre is a sports reporter whose primary role is covering the Winnipeg Jets. After graduating from the Creative Communications program at Red River College in 1995, he spent two years gaining experience at the Winnipeg Sun before joining the Free Press in 1997, where he served on the crime and justice beat until 2016. Read more about Mike<\/a>.<\/p>\n Every piece of reporting Mike produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print \u2014 part of the Free Press\u2018s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press\u2019s history and mandate<\/a>, and learn how our newsroom operates<\/a>.<\/p>\n
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