Hockey Canada has announced that Sidney Crosby has officially joined Team Canada for the upcoming IIHF World Championship, set to take place from May 15 to 31 in Zurich and Fribourg, Switzerland. At 38 years old, Crosby adds significant experience to the roster.
Sidney Crosby’s Experience and Leadership
Crosby was omitted from the initial 23-man squad as his NHL team, the Pittsburgh Penguins, had just finished their season after a playoff loss to the Philadelphia Flyers. Earlier, Macklin Celebrini was appointed team captain in Crosby’s absence and showcased his skills with a four-point performance in a pre-tournament victory over France.
Key Achievements
Crosby has been a stalwart leader for Team Canada since he first wore the ‘C’ during the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. His extensive international experience includes:
- 2015 World Championship
- 2016 World Cup of Hockey
- 2025 Four Nations Face-Off
- 2026 Winter Olympics
Despite his knee injury preventing him from playing in the semifinal and gold-medal games last season, Crosby boasts an impressive track record of 27 goals and 43 assists over 53 international games, contributing to six medals for Canada.
Recent Performance
This season in the NHL, Crosby marked his 21st year with 29 goals and 45 assists for a total of 74 points in 68 games. He not only led the Penguins in scoring but also achieved franchise milestones, including:
- 10 power-play goals
- 4 game-winning goals
Crosby has now achieved the highest number of point-per-game seasons in league history and currently ranks seventh on the NHL’s all-time scoring list with 1,761 points.
Roster Updates
Alongside Crosby, forwards Dawson Mercer and Porter Martone have also been named to the roster, increasing the team total to 25 players. However, Mathew Barzal will miss the championship due to a minor pre-existing injury.
The complete Team Canada roster includes:
| Forwards | Defencemen | Goaltenders |
|---|---|---|
|
Sidney Crosby Porter Martone Dawson Mercer Connor Brown Robert Thomas Dylan Cozens Gabriel Vilardi Mark Scheifele Emmitt Finnie Macklin Celebrini Dylan Holloway Ryan O’Reilly John Tavares Fraser Minten |
Dylan DeMelo Denton Mateychuk Sam Dickinson Evan Bouchard Darnell Nurse Zach Whitecloud Parker Wotherspoon Morgan Rielly |
Cam Talbot Jacko Ivankovic Jet Greaves |
As Team Canada prepares for the IIHF World Championship, bringing back Sidney Crosby will undoubtedly bolster their chances of success on the international stage.
