Penguins star Sidney Crosby has been the face of the NHL ever since he was selected first overall in the 2005 draft by Pittsburgh.
The 37-year-old has two Olympic gold medals and also captured gold for Canada in the World Championships, World Cup and World Junior Championships. It is no wonder that Crosby was named captain for Team Canada in the NHL’s 4 Nations Face-Off tournament, which kicks off Wednesday night at the Bell Centre in Montreal.
“It means a lot to us. I think all of us would have been really bummed if he wasn’t here,” Colorado Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon told NHL.com’s correspondent Scott Burnside. “He’s our captain. I think most of us grew up huge fans of him, I’m sure. I think he looks great, and I think he feels pretty healthy. But if he’s not, then he’s the last guy I’m worried about in terms of toughness.”
Crosby missed the final two games for the Penguins with an upper-body injury against the New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers before the two-week break for the tournament, and Pittsburgh head coach Mike Sullivan gave the three-time Stanley Cup champion the honor of deciding if he could still represent his country. Crosby has been a full participant in Canada’s first two practices. Sullivan will have to face his captain as the coach of Team USA.
“So, I’m not going to lie to you. It’s going to be a little bit awkward for me not having him on the same bench because we’ve been together for as long as we have,” Sullivan said, per Burnside. “He’s an incredible player, as you know. The drive, and the will to win and the willingness to put the work in and do what it takes on a daily basis for me is something that separates Sid from others. The thing that I’m probably most proud of him or the thing that I think also separates him is the humility and the grace that he carries himself. I think Sid represents everything that’s good about our game.”
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Team Canada will kick off the tournament against Sweden on Wednesday night. Here’s the complete schedule for the NHL’s 4 Nations Face-Off. The times listed are Eastern.
Wednesday, Feb. 12: Canada vs. Sweden, 8 p.m. at Bell Centre on TNT
Thursday, Feb. 13: USA vs. Finland, 8 p.m. at Bell Centre on ESPN
Saturday, Feb. 15: Finland vs. Sweden, 1 p.m. at Bell Centre on ABC
Saturday, Feb. 15: USA vs. Canada, 8 p.m. at Bell Centre on ABC
Monday, Feb. 17: Canada vs. Finland, 1 p.m. at TD Garden on TNT
Monday, Feb. 17: Sweden vs. USA, 8 p.m. at TD Garden on TNT
Thursday, Feb. 20: Championship Game, 8 p.m. at TD Garden on ESPN
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Featured image via David Gonzales/Imagn Images