Forward Rasmus Kupari’s journey with Team Finland for the World Juniors tournament is done after just one game.
He was injured in the third period of Sweden’s opening game against Finland on December 26, when he tried to skate around Swedish defenseman Philip Broberg. The two collided, sending Kupari airborne.
Rasmus Kupari with what looks like a bad knee injury. Needed help off the ice pic.twitter.com/kr1wIA4PCW
— /Cam Robinson/ (@Hockey_Robinson) December 26, 2019
Kupari needed assistance getting off the ice, and while according to reports, he was spotted walking on his own in the team’s dressing room after the game, after evaluation he has been ruled out for the rest of the tournament.
Specifics of the knee injury haven’t been released yet, but the last public update is that Kupari was headed back to Los Angeles for further evaluation.
It’s a disappointing end to the tournament for Kupari, who was looked at as a veteran leader on the Finnish squad, which was hoping to repeat last year’s gold medal performance. Kupari’s loss will also be felt on the Ontario Reign, where his six goals were tied for third-most on the team.