Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy shared his first public comments following his injury with Team USA at the 4 Nations Face-Off, posting on Instagram about the experience and his subsequent hospitalization.

U.S. head coach Mike Sullivan shared to his team that he had a “special guest” to read off the starters for the game.

McAvoy injured his right shoulder in Team USA’s opener and a subsequent infection necessitated a hospital stay.

Introduced as a “special guest” by Team USA head coach (and his father in-law) Mike Sullivan, McAvoy — sporting a sling on his right arm — earned a round of applause from his teammates after entering the room.

Boston Bruins alternate captain Charlie McAvoy was unavailable for Team USA in Thursday night's epic showdown against arch-rival Team Canada in the 4 Nations Face-Off Final. McAvoy was forced to miss the game after undergoing a procedure on Tuesday to "cut out and clean an infection,

Team USA and Team Canada are duking it out for the right to call themselves the champions of the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament, but the former is playing without a key part of their lineup. Defenseman

The Four Nations was a major win for the NHL, and after some great performances and a major injury, Charlie McAvoy has opened up on the wild tournament.