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Canada Adds Sidney Crosby to World Championship Roster

5/13/2026

Summary

Crosby Joins Canada

Canada added Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby to its men’s national team for the IIHF World Championship.
The move followed the Penguins’ first-round playoff loss to the Philadelphia Flyers.
After Mathew Barzal withdrew with a minor injury, Hockey Canada added Porter Martone and Dawson Mercer.
Canada opens the tournament against Sweden on Friday, with Crosby bringing a record of 27 goals, 43 assists in 53 games.

Summary

Celebrini Captains Canada

Macklin Celebrini was named captain of Team Canada for the 2026 IIHF World Championship after a four-point effort in a 6-1 win over France.
The tournament will run from May 15 to May 31, 2026, in Zurich and Fribourg, Switzerland, with Canada opening against Sweden.
John Tavares and Ryan O'Reilly were named alternate captains as the roster expanded to 25, adding forwards Porter Martone, Dawson Mercer and goaltender Cam Talbot.

Summary

Crosby Injured

Crosby missed the Olympic gold-medal game after a right-knee injury from a collision with defenseman Radko Gudas.
NHL Network will broadcast the tournament; viewers can stream it on ESPN+.
Crosby earned his 16th scoring title, moved to seventh on the NHL all-time points list with 1,761 points, and set the record for 21-point seasons.
Crosby joined Hockey Canada’s leadership group with Parker Wotherspoon, Jason Spezza, Kyle Dubas and Sean Young.

Summary

Donskov Leads Canada

Misha Donskov will coach Team Canada at the 2026 IIHF World Championship.
Canada lost to Denmark in the 2025 quarter-finals, ending its medal run.
Sidney Crosby, who led scoring with eight goals and eight assists at the 2006 tournament, seeks redemption after a knee injury kept him out of February’s Olympic gold-medal game.
Barzal, a 2022 silver-medal veteran, will miss the 2026 event due to a pre-existing injury.

History

Historical Context

At the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, Canada captured its first men’s ice-hockey gold, ending a 50-year drought. Hockey Canada’s roster, overseen by General Manager Brian Burke, featured 23 players and generated $45 million in television revenue for the NHL. Similarly, the 2026 IIHF World Championship roster adds veteran Sidney Crosby, Porter Martone, and Dawson Mercer as Canada seeks redemption after the 2025 quarter-final loss. If Canada repeats the 2002 triumph, the victory could boost Hockey Canada’s sponsorships by an estimated 12 percent and solidify its global dominance.

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Crosby Joins Canada

Canada added Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby to its men’s national team for the IIHF World Championship.
The move followed the Penguins’ first-round playoff loss to the Philadelphia Flyers.
After Mathew Barzal withdrew with a minor injury, Hockey Canada added Porter Martone and Dawson Mercer.
Canada opens the tournament against Sweden on Friday, with Crosby bringing a record of 27 goals, 43 assists in 53 games.

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