Canucks forward Boeser will miss the start of the season after hand surgery

The Vancouver Canucks will start the season without Brock Boeser after the right winger underwent hand surgery.

The team announced the news on Monday, saying the 25-year-old forward was injured in training camp in Whistler, B.C., on Saturday and will be out for three to four weeks.

Boeser had 23 goals and 23 assists for Vancouver last season while dealing with the declining health of his father, Duke, who died in late May following a long battle with cancer and Parkinson’s disease.

Boeser told reporters Thursday he was looking forward to focusing on hockey and helping the Canucks win.

Drafted 23rd overall by the Canucks in 2015, the six-foot-one, 208-pound player had 256 points in 324 regular-season NHL games.

The Canucks will continue preseason play Thursday when they host the Seattle Kraken. Vancouver begins its regular season on October 12 against the Oilers in Edmonton.