Anaheim Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf will undergo surgery on Wednesday for appendicitis which could force him out of action for up to 12 days, the NHL team said.

Getzlaf, who helped Canada win a gold medal at the 2014 Sochi Winter Games, has been bothered by the problem for the past six weeks. The club described it as a discomfort and said it is not an emergency procedure.

The 30-year-old Getzlaf is off to a slow start this season. In eight games, he has no goals and one assist.

The former first round pick in the 2003 NHL entry draft has scored 208 goals and 471 assists during 11 seasons with the Ducks.

He was a member of the Ducks' 2007 Stanley Cup championship team and represented Canada on numerous occasions, including the 2010 Vancouver and 2014 Sochi Olympics and at the 2008 IIHF World Championships.
Source: AFP