Team USA's Jeff Halpern Will Sit Out World Tournament Due To Knee Injury

Tampa, FL (AHN) - Tampa Bay Lightning center Jeff Halpern will miss the rest of the World Hockey Tournament after injuring his knee in Team USA's loss to Canada on Tuesday.

The 32-year-old captain of the young USA squad, sustained a complete rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during the third period of a 5-4 loss to Canada Tuesday at the 2008 World Hockey Championships in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Halpern, who was examined by Dr. Benjamin Shaffer in Washington D.C., was also suffering from a Grade III injury to the medial collateral ligament and a small tear to the lateral meniscus as shown by medical examinations. Halpern has no choice but to sit out the remainder of the tournament.

Halpern, formerly from Dallas after being sent to Tampa that dealt Brad Richards to the Stars, has tallied 20 goals and has registered 22 assists during the last season with the Stars and Lightning. He has also a scored a career 115 goals and 166 assists over eight seasons with the Lightning, Stars and Capitals.

Halpern, who previously underwent surgery to repair a torn ACL, will have to wait four-to-six weeks for the MCL injury to completely heal before undergoing surgery for his ACL rupture.