NHL players will participate in the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games next February. This is the first time since 2014 that the best players in the world have been on the Olympic scene. NHNH.com will publish an article on the countdown of the 2026 Olympic Games every Monday. Today, we are talking to the Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, who will try to lead the Canadian team to another gold medal.
Who says gold medal and Canada dit Sidney Crosby.
But at 38, Crosby no longer wants to be the only face of Canadian successes on the international scene. He wishes to stretch the torch at the next generation.
“Whether with Canadian players or simply with young teammates, I am able to put myself in the shoes of those who go through the same stages as me at the time,” said the triple champion of the Stanley Cup (2009, 2016, 2017). “A few years ago, I had very important teammates for my development. They helped me make adjustments in my game. It is one of the good sides to practice a team sport. I hope, in my turn, that I help some.
“Today, guys arrive ready in the NHL, so they don’t need to be a lot of things teach, but I’m here if they need me. »»
Crosby played the role of captain of the Canadian training several times during his career. He brought the “C” to his sweater when the national selection won gold at the 2005 World Junior Championship, at the Vancouver Games in 2010, at the Sochi Games in 2014, at the 2015 IIHF World Championship, at the 2016 Hockey World Cup and, finally, to the confrontation of the 4 nations last February.
This last tournament was also a real real opportunity for Crosby to transmit his knowledge to young Canadian star players.
The confrontation of the 4 nations was the first international tournament bringing together the best players in the world since the 2016 World Cup. Crosby and Canada won gold after a 3-2 victory in overtime against the United States in the Grand Final.
The Canadian team that won the World Cup nine years earlier did not bet either on Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers), Nathan Mackinnon (Colorado Avalanche) and neither Colton Parayko (St. Louis Blues), who rather represented the North American team under 23 at the time. At the 4 nations, this time, they each equipped with Crosby. They were therefore able to receive the precious advice from the veteran.
Nothing new, however, for Mackinnon, also native of Cole Harbor.
« Sid Helped me a lot, he said. He was the veteran who helped me most at my start in the NHL, even if we were not playing in the same team. I was very lucky. Who knows what I would have become if it weren’t for him? I am convinced that several players take example from him. He is a leader, it is natural at home.
