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

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,