Sidney Crosby out for Olympic gold-medal game; sidney crosby ruled out an hour before puck drop
sidney crosby has been ruled out of Canada’s Olympic gold-medal game against the United States in Milan, with the announcement coming about an hour before the scheduled start. The 38-year-old Canadian captain suffered a lower-body injury in Canada’s quarterfinal victory over Czechia and his availability had been in doubt until the official ruling.
Sidney Crosby ruled out an hour before puck drop in Milan
The decision that Sidney Crosby would not play against the United States was made public roughly an hour before the game in Milan. Team officials confirmed the timing of the announcement and that Crosby would not be in Canada’s active lineup for the gold-medal game.
How the injury happened against Czechia: Nečas and Gudas hits
Crosby suffered a lower-body injury during Canada’s quarterfinal victory over Czechia after being hit along the boards in the second period by Czechia’s Martin Nečas and Radko Gudas. That sequence marked the third major hit Crosby had taken in the period; he exited the ice soon afterward, limped toward the locker room, and was soon ruled out of that quarterfinal game.
Coach Jon Cooper, Connor McDavid and the captaincy change
Canada head coach Jon Cooper said on Friday that he believed Crosby had a chance to play in the gold-medal game, but that the 38-year-old Canadian captain did not recover in time to be in the active lineup. Connor McDavid, who spoke after Crosby’s injury, said, “He’s Sidney Crosby. He’s going to have a big influence no matter what. In the lineup, not in the lineup, he’s going to have a big influence. That’s what he does. ” McDavid will again be the playing captain for Team Canada, as he has been since Crosby’s injury.
Crosby’s Olympic history and Milan statistics
Crosby, the oldest player on Canada’s roster, has played in three Olympic Games and is a two-time Olympic gold medalist, winning gold in Vancouver 2010 and Sochi 2014. He famously scored Canada’s golden overtime goal in 2010 that sent Canada past the United States. In Milan, sidney crosby has collected two goals and four assists, and he holds the Canadian NHL-era Olympic record with 16 total points.
Practices, media access and public statements
Crosby skated in practice on both Friday and Saturday before the gold-medal game but made no public statements, as both practices were closed to media. His status for Sunday’s game had been in doubt right up until the official announcement that he would not play.
