Vancouver, BC -- Vancouver Canucks defenseman Ed Jovanovski will undergo abdominal surgery and is expected to miss the Olympics for Canada.

Jovanovski will have the procedure done in Philadelphia on Wednesday and could be sidelined at least six weeks.

"After further consultation with one of the leading physicians with regard to abdominal sports injuries it was decided that surgery was the best course of action," said Canucks senior vice president and general manager Dave Nonis. "The best long term decision for Eddie and our hockey club was to have the surgery immediately."

Jovanovski has six goals and 22 assists in 39 games this season.