Sidney Crosby Won't Play in Olympic Gold Medal Game — The Full Story of His Injury and Jon Cooper's Gut-Wrenching Decision

MILAN, Italy — The answer that millions of hockey fans around the world were dreading arrived Sunday morning ET: Sidney Crosby will not play in the Olympic gold medal game against Team USA. Canada's captain — the greatest player of his generation — made the Crosby decision himself, choosing to give his lineup spot to a healthy teammate rather than risk further damage to his lower body. It is one of the most emotional storylines of the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Games, and as Team Canada takes the ice against Team USA without their No. 87, the question of what happened to Sidney Crosby and how coach Jon Cooper navigated the crisis deserves a full accounting.

What Happened to Sidney Crosby: The Quarterfinal Collision

Sidney Crosby sustained a lower-body injury during the second period of Team Canada's 4-3 overtime win against Team Czechia in the quarterfinals at Santagiulia Arena on Wednesday, February 18 ET.

The sequence that ended his tournament unfolded at 4:55 of the second period. Crosby appeared to sustain his Crosby injury on a hit from Radko Gudas at the red line between the benches. His legs appeared to split when Gudas toppled over him. Crosby was favoring his right leg as he got up but stayed on the ice. Thirteen seconds later, he was hit by Martin Necas and Gudas along the boards near Canada's bench, took two strides toward the middle of Canada's offensive zone, pulled up, and circled back to go to the bench. He stayed there for about a minute while being examined by medical staff before heading to the dressing room with 13:55 remaining in the period.

Cooper said Team Canada knew something was seriously wrong because Sidney Crosby rarely sustains an injury in a game that requires him to leave.

Is Sidney Crosby Playing in the Gold Medal Game? The Official Answer

Sidney Crosby is not well enough to suit up for today's gold medal game against Team USA.

The decision to sit out the Olympic gold medal final came down to Crosby himself. The captain wanted to give his spot to a healthy player, according to Canadian general manager Doug Armstrong. The lower-body injury also kept Crosby out of the semifinal win over Finland on Friday.

"It was obviously a drawn-out process," Armstrong said. "He skated, he went through his rehab, he met with the coach, he met with the doctors."

"He's meant so much to everybody throughout the years," Armstrong added. "It's a very difficult decision, but I'm very honoured and proud to have worked with him in this event and what he's done for us to put us in this spot today."

Jon Cooper's Role: Balancing Hope With Hard Reality

Jon Cooper has been the central figure in managing the Sidney Crosby injury saga over the past four days, walking a daily tightrope between protecting his captain and keeping hope alive for a return.

When the injury first occurred, Jon Cooper told reporters: "Sid is by no means ruled out of the tournament. We've got the best of the best looking at him. We're taking this day by day. We're not going to put anyone in harm's way, but if he can play, he's definitely going to."

After the semifinal win over Finland — which Crosby missed — Cooper notably shifted his language. "I will tell you he's got a better chance of playing in the gold medal game than he had playing in tonight's game," Cooper told reporters following the Finland fixture.

On Saturday, after Crosby completed a closed practice skate, Jon Cooper was still measured: "I watched him skate today. I haven't spoken to him yet. We're going to meet tonight and have a determination of what's going to happen tomorrow. He won't put himself in harm's way. He's not going to put the team in harm's way. Obviously, we'd love to have him, but that determination will be made tonight."

Cooper had also confirmed that defenseman Josh Morrissey — who suffered his own injury in Canada's opening game against Czechia — would not dress for the gold medal game, further thinning the Canadian blue line.

A 70% Chance That Never Materialized

In the hours before the official ruling, the hockey world was buzzing with cautious optimism. A report from Ryan Rishaug stated: "I'm told the chances Sidney Crosby plays in the gold medal game are in the 70% range. Seeing how he responds to his skate today and figuring out what his limitations might be are all part of the process tonight and tomorrow."

Those odds ultimately collapsed overnight. By Sunday morning ET, Canada confirmed the gut-wrenching news.

Crosby's Leadership From the Sidelines

Even without a stick in his hand, Sidney Crosby remained the emotional heartbeat of Team Canada throughout the tournament.

Despite the injury, Crosby addressed the team in between the second and third periods of the Czechia quarterfinal, delivering a message of "Go get it, boys," Cooper said.

Crosby has been around the team since his injury, addressing the group and talking one-on-one with players about what he was observing. "He's been extremely positive," Connor McDavid said. "Still contributing even though he didn't play last game. Still being the leader he is." McDavid wore the "C" in Crosby's absence during the semifinal and will do so again Sunday.

Crosby had six points over the four games he played at this tournament. More than that, he was the team's emotional leader even from the sidelines. When Canada was down against Czechia and Finland, the team rallied behind the idea that they wanted to give Crosby another chance to wear the Canadian jersey.

The Historic Weight of What Crosby Is Missing

Sidney Crosby's third Olympics came 16 years after he scored the famous golden goal in overtime to defeat the United States for gold at Vancouver 2010 — a moment that inspired many of the current generation of Canadian talent, with whom Crosby could have shared the ice one final time at a gold medal match.

Canada's Adjusted Gold Medal Roster Without Crosby

Canada has been forced to shift lines in Crosby's absence. The adjusted top line features Macklin Celebrini, Connor McDavid, and Nathan MacKinnon. Sam Bennett has been critical in filling the center-depth void left by Sidney Crosby, as well as the earlier tournament losses of Brayden Point and Anthony Cirelli — both centers ruled out before the Games even began.

Defenseman Josh Morrissey and goalie Darcy Kuemper are also not dressed for today's gold medal game.

For Jon Cooper, the challenge is immense — but the roster talent surrounding the absence of Sidney Crosby remains extraordinary. McDavid, MacKinnon, Mitch Marner, and Brad Marchand have carried Canada to the brink of gold. Now they must do it without their captain in the biggest game of their lives.