Canada's Marc-Edouard Vlasic forced out of hockey worlds

The injury bug has bitten Canada once again at the IIHF world hockey championship.

Defenceman Marc-Edouard Vlasic was ruled out of the tournament Sunday with a right leg injury, making him the second Canadian blue-liner to be sent home early after P.K. Subban.

"It's tough to lose a good young player like Marc-Edouard," said general manager Kevin Lowe. "His game is really suited to the big ice. He's a very mobile defender who will be hard to replace."

Vlasic suffered the injury after getting tangled up with an opponent in the third period of Saturday's 5-4 overtime loss to the United States. He tried to play through it but quickly realized something was wrong.

The 25-year-old was competing in his second world championship and limped out of Hartwall Arena after watching his teammates practice on Sunday.

"I am really disappointed," said Vlasic. "This is a great group and a great tournament. I was really looking forward to the rest of the games and trying to win the gold medal we missed out on in 2009."

Not only has Canada lost Subban and Vlasic, but defenceman Marc Methot sat out the tournament opener with a minor groin injury and played limited minutes against the U.S.

Kyle Quincey joined the team in Helsinki on Sunday — giving Canada seven blue-liners, including junior prospect Ryan Murray — and could find himself inserted directly into the lineup against France on Monday. Lowe said that he would consider trying to add another defenceman.

The team is only allowed to register one more player under tournament rules.