westbeach55
02-08-2006, 11:33 AM
Mighty Ducks of Anaheim defenceman Scott Niedermayer has decided that he will not be playing for Canada at the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Torino.
Niedermayer, one of Team Canada's top defencemen for almost a decade, has been playing over the last couple of months with a lingering knee injury. His agent says the 32-year-old blueliner will undergo knee surgery during the break.
He suffered a small tear in some cartilage in his right knee in December and had to decide whether to continue playing through the injury, or to use the Olympic break as an opportunity to have arthroscopic knee surgery and minimize the time missed playing with the Ducks.
The 2004 Norris Trophy winner underwent a second MRI last week, and the latest results showed more swelling than before, but not to the point where doctors said surgery is absolutely necessary.
Niedermayer was one of Canada's most experienced blueliners, having played at the 1991 and 1992 World Juniors, the 1996 World Cup, the 1998 and 2002 Winter Olympics, Canada's 2004 World Championship team and the 2004 World Cup team.
Sources suggest Florida's Jay Bouwmeester is the leading candidate to replace him, although Tampa Bay defenceman Dan Boyle is getting consideration as well.
More to follow.
Niedermayer, one of Team Canada's top defencemen for almost a decade, has been playing over the last couple of months with a lingering knee injury. His agent says the 32-year-old blueliner will undergo knee surgery during the break.
He suffered a small tear in some cartilage in his right knee in December and had to decide whether to continue playing through the injury, or to use the Olympic break as an opportunity to have arthroscopic knee surgery and minimize the time missed playing with the Ducks.
The 2004 Norris Trophy winner underwent a second MRI last week, and the latest results showed more swelling than before, but not to the point where doctors said surgery is absolutely necessary.
Niedermayer was one of Canada's most experienced blueliners, having played at the 1991 and 1992 World Juniors, the 1996 World Cup, the 1998 and 2002 Winter Olympics, Canada's 2004 World Championship team and the 2004 World Cup team.
Sources suggest Florida's Jay Bouwmeester is the leading candidate to replace him, although Tampa Bay defenceman Dan Boyle is getting consideration as well.
More to follow.