Sun and sand can wait, MacKenzie Weegar wants to play for his country.
The Calgary Flames defenceman was reportedly one of the last cuts from Canada's roster for the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off, but after Alex Pietrangelo unexpectedly withdrew on Sunday, there is now one open spot on the Canadian blue line.
Weegar said he's ready to fill the void left by Pietrangelo if called upon, even if that means missing out on some R&R.
“I’ve got a great vacation booked down in Mexico that I’m ready to cancel at any time,” Weegar told Sportsnet's Pat Steinberg on Tuesday when asked about replacing Pietrangelo.
4 Nations Face-Off
With the inaugural edition of the 4 Nations Face-Off fast approaching, be sure to catch up on all the latest news about the highly-anticipated best-on-best event. Puck drops on Feb. 12, 2025, on Sportsnet.
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Weegar, 31, has six goals and 19 assists in 48 games for the Flames this season and has helped Calgary to an unexpected playoff push. In 2023-24, he enjoyed a breakout season where he finished with career highs in goals (20) and points (52).
Some other possible candidates to replace Pietrangelo include Dougie Hamilton of the Devils, Evan Bouchard of the Oilers, Aaron Ekblad of the Panthers and Drew Doughty of the Kings.
The 4 Nations Face-Off will take place Feb. 12-20 in Montreal and Boston, and will serve as both a replacement for this year’s All-Star Game and a preview of the 2026 Winter Olympics.
The tournament will feature Canada, the U.S., Sweden and Finland, and all games can be watched on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+.
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