Ice Hockey: Injuries on Canada's defence

Team Canada's already hurting defence took another hit when Rob Blake of the Colorado Avalanche left Friday's game against the Columbus Blue Jackets in the second period with an apparent groin strain and did not return.

His injury status remains unknown but a good indication will be if he plays in Sunday's game against the Detroit Red Wings.

Meanwhile, Chris Pronger of the Edmonton Oilers has a cracked bone in his right foot -- but it won’t affect his Olympic status.

The gritty blueliner has been playing through the pain and doesn’t feel it will jeopardizing the team.

Pronger suffered a similar injury during the 2003-04 season which forced him to withdraw from the 2004 World Cup of Hockey.

A nagging wrist injury limited Pronger to a mere five regular season games in 2002-03, before he rebounded the following year with 54 points (14-40-54), including his 400th career point.

Canada has already been forced to replace two injured defencemen for the Olympic games in Torino. Scott Niedermayer and Ed Jovanovski have been felled by uinjuries. They have been replaced on the Canadian roster by Bryan McCabe and Jay Bouwmeester.

Dan Boyle was elevated to the taxi squad and would get the call if Blake or Pronger can't play.