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Team Canada could get a major boost to its roster in its Olympic gold medal game against Team USA in men’s hockey on Sunday: the potential return of captain Sidney Crosby.
Crosby, 38, did not play in Canada’s 3-2 semifinal win over Team Finland on Friday after suffering a lower-body injury in the quarterfinals against the Czech Republic, but he skated during Saturday’s practice. Canada head coach Jon Cooper said Crosby would be a game-time decision.
“We’ll see,” Cooper said, according to NHL.com. “I saw him skating today. I haven’t talked to him yet. We’re going to meet tonight and figure out what’s going to happen tomorrow.
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Sidney Crosby of Team Canada reacts during the Men’s Ice Hockey Quarterfinal match between Canada and Czechia on day 12 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at Milan Santa Giulia Ice Hockey Arena. Milan, Italy, February 18, 2026. (Stefano Guidi/Getty Images)
“He won’t put himself in danger. He won’t put the team in danger. Obviously we would love to have him, but that decision will be made tonight.”
Cooper insisted Crosby wouldn’t play unless he was able to make an impact on the team.
“It’s too big and we don’t have anyone to inspire us when we could have a player who can help, and you never know if guys are going to get hurt in the game,” Cooper said. “He wouldn’t want to do that either.”
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Sidney Crosby (87) of Canada is treated after being injured during the second period of a men’s ice hockey quarterfinal match between Canada and Czechia at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Milan, Italy, February 18, 2026. (Hassan Ammar/AP Photo)
The International Ice Hockey Federation stipulates that teams must have a player wearing the “C” on their jersey. While Crosby was out against Finland, Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid wore the “C” in Crosby’s place.
McDavid said the team wanted to give Crosby an opportunity to play Sunday after missing the semifinal.
“We really wanted to give him an opportunity to play one more game,” McDavid said, according to NHL.com. “We did it and we’ll see.”
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Canada’s Connor McDavid wears the team captain’s letter C on his jersey in place of the injured Sidney Crosby during the second period of a men’s ice hockey semifinal game against Finland at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy. Milan, Italy, February 20, 2026. (Carolyn Kaster/AP Photo)
McDavid said Crosby has been “extremely positive” and still contributed to the team even though he wasn’t playing.
On the other hand, Team USA’s Tage Thompson was on the ice for the team’s practice on Saturday after scoring the team’s 6-2 victory over the Slovak team in the third period on Friday. Thompson was ruled out of the third period for precautionary reasons.
The highly anticipated gold medal game takes place on Sunday at 8:10 a.m. ET.
