4 Nations Face-Off
Devils Brett Pesce Joining Team USA for 4 Nations Face-Off Championship, Kind Of
Brett Pesce is only eligible to play for Team USA if one of their current six defensemen are ruled out due to injury or illness.
According to a report by insider Frank Seravalli, New Jersey Devils defenseman, Brett Pesce, is joining Team USA for the 4 Nations Face-Off championship game against Team Canada.
New Jersey Hockey Now confirmed the report, and learned he is en route to Boston to meet Team USA.
READ MORE: Devils Jacob Markstrom Returns to Practice
Pesce joins Devils teammate as Jack Hughes, who has already played in the first three games.
Buffalo Sabres forward Tage Thompson is also expected to join the team.
As a result of the injury to Charlie McAvoy, an infection that has caused him to remain in the hospital, Team USA is down to six defensemen. Ottawa Senators blueliner Jake Sanderson is expected to play in the championship game as USA’s sixth defenseman. However, if an injury—or illness which has made its way throughout the tournament occurs—Pesce will be eligible to replace a defenseman. The same rules for Thompson apply at forward.
Team USA general manager Bill Guerin tried diligently all of Tuesday and Wednesday to bring the eldest Hughes brother, Quinn Hughes, to the championship final. However, he was ruled ineligible, as he has not yet been cleared for contact stemming from the injury that kept him out of the tournament in the first place.
Pesce was on the ice for practice with the Devils on Wednesday morning for practice. He will travel to Boston as a viewer of the tournament, unless his services are needed in the previous stated cases.
Seravalli explained both Pesce and Thompson were on Team USA’s radar upon the initial roster selections.
For more Devils news, visit New Jersey Hockey Now, subscribe to our YouTube and like our Facebook page.
Follow us on 𝕏:
@NJDHockeyNow, @JamesNicholsNHL, @NickNatale10
