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Team Canada may get a big boost to its lineup in its Olympic gold medal showdown against Team USA in men’s hockey on Sunday: the possible return of captain Sidney Crosby.
Crosby, 38, did not play in Canada’s 3-2 semifinal victory against Team Finland on Friday after suffering a lower-body injury in the quarterfinals against the Czech Republic, but skated during Saturday’s practice. Canada head coach Jon Cooper said Crosby will be a game-time decision.
“We’ll see,” Cooper said, according to NHL.com. “I saw him skate today. I haven’t talked to him yet. We’ll meet tonight and figure out what happens 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 Olympic Winter Games at Milano 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 determination will be made tonight.”
Cooper insisted Crosby won’t play unless he can impact the team.
“It’s too important and we don’t have anyone there as an inspiration when we could have a player capable of helping, and you never know if guys are going to get hurt in the game,” Cooper said. “He wouldn’t want to do that either.”
TEAM USA WILL FIGHT CANADA FOR OLYMPIC GOLD AFTER DOMINANT PERFORMANCE AGAINST SLOVAKIA
Canada’s Sidney Crosby (87) is treated after being injured during the second period of a men’s ice hockey quarterfinal game between Canada and Czechia at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Milan, Italy, Feb. 18, 2026. (Hassan Ammar/AP Photo)
The International Ice Hockey Federation states that teams must have a player who wears the “C” on their jersey. With Crosby out against Finland, Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid wore the “C” instead of Crosby.
McDavid said the team wanted to give Crosby a chance to play Sunday after missing the semifinal.
“We definitely wanted to give him a chance to play one more time,” McDavid said, according to NHL.com. “We’ve done 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 has still contributed to the team despite not playing.
Elsewhere, Team USA’s Tage Thompson was on the ice to skate on Saturday after leaving the team’s 6-2 win over Team Slovakia in the third period on Friday. Thompson was held out of the third period for precautionary reasons.
The highly anticipated gold medal match is Sunday at 8:10 a.m. ET.
