Charlie McAvoy hasn’t brushed off the hit he took from Panthers forward Sandis Vilmanis in the Bruins’ final game before the Olympic break. And with both players now set to cross paths again at the Winter Olympics, McAvoy was asked the question everyone’s been wondering about: Is revenge on his mind?
Charlie McAvoy Opens Up About Potential Olympic Payback
The incident occurred on Wednesday night when Vilmanis caught McAvoy in the neutral zone with a late elbow to the head during the first period. McAvoy went down hard, stayed on the ice for several moments, and needed help off the ice. Although he eventually returned later in the second period, the hit raised questions about the player’s safety.
Despite how severe it looked, Vilmanis was assessed only a two-minute minor for an illegal check to the head and avoided any supplemental discipline from the league.
A few days later, McAvoy took to social media, posting a side-by-side image showing visible swelling on his face next to a clip of the hit. Speaking with TSN’s Mark Masters, McAvoy explained why he felt compelled to share it. “I just felt strongly about what happened,” McAvoy said.
The timing makes the situation even more intriguing. McAvoy is representing Team USA at the Winter Olympics, while Vilmanis is skating for Latvia. The Americans open their tournament on Thursday against Latvia.
Asked directly whether he’d be looking for payback, McAvoy kept his answer measured. “It doesn’t matter to me,” he said. “Not going to be looking for him or anything like that.”
That said, McAvoy didn’t completely dismiss the idea. He made it clear he won’t hunt Vilmanis down, but if the opportunity presents itself in the flow of the game, he won’t shy away from standing up for himself.
The hit carried extra weight because McAvoy is not far removed from a serious injury. In November, he suffered a fractured jaw that required surgery, forcing him to miss time. And later returned wearing a protective helmet. Taking another blow to the head only heightened concern about his health.
McAvoy also acknowledged how uncomfortable it has been playing with protective gear, describing the challenge of wearing a bubble mask while trying to stay effective at game speed.
McAvoy is focused on the bigger picture. To help Team USA get off to a strong start. Still, with emotions fresh and the spotlight of the Olympics shining brightly. The opening matchup against Latvia suddenly carries an added edge.
