The Pittsburgh Penguins will have more than just Erik Karlsson at the 4 Nations Face-Off. Team Canada announced their first six roster players, and Penguins captain Sidney Crosby was present as expected.
Despite not participating in the most recent IIHF World Championship, Crosby will look to lead Team Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off and likely beyond into the upcoming Winter Olympics in 2026.
Crosby was announced alongside Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Connor McDavid, Brayden Point, and Brad Marchand. Crosby and Marchand have shared the international stage before, but this will be the first time for the likes of MacKinnon and McDavid.
Over the course of his almost 20-year professional career, Crosby has represented Team Canada four different times, winning gold at each tournament. Two Olympics golds in 2010 and 2014, a IIHF World Championship win in 2015, and the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
As a junior player in 2005, Crosby helped lead Canada to gold at the World Junior Championship.
Crosby and Karlsson are the first two Penguins to be announced to 4 Nations Face-Off rosters. The rest of the lineups will be announced at a later date.
Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan has also been selected as Team USA’s head coach.
