To the surprise of nobody, Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins is the captain of Team Canada’s 2026 Winter Olympics men’s hockey team.
Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers) and Cale Makar (Colorado Avalanche) will serve as the alternate captains. This is the same trio Team Canada used as its leadership group during the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off. That group won gold after defeating Team USA in the finals.
During that event, Crosby finished with a goal and four assists for five points in four games. He continues to prove that he still has what it takes to dominate in best-on-best tournaments. Since the 2014 Olympics, Crosby has worn the ‘C’ for Canada in every event he’s played in.
Crosby is Captain Canuck
With Crosby as captain, Canada has won an Olympic gold medal, a World Cup of Hockey gold medal, a World Championship gold medal, and the 4 Nations Face-Off. In five events as the captain of Team Canada, he has won four gold medals.
Team Denmark defeated Crosby and Team Canada in the quarter finals at the 2025 World Championships. He will try to lead Canada to a much better outcome at the 2026 Winter Olympics. It will be his third Olympic tournament. He won gold in his previous two Olympics (2010 and 2014).
In 2010, Crosby served as an alternate captain. He registered four goals and three assists for seven points in seven games. The most memorable moment was scoring the iconic golden goal against Team USA. He then registered one goal and two assists for three points in six games during the 2014 Olympics. However, that one goal came in the finals against Sweden.
McDavid and Makar Looking to Help
There is no doubt that Crosby is one of the most decorated hockey players at the NHL level. He is also one of Canada’s most decorated international players on the men’s side. The dominance he shows on the ice and his leadership are staples of Canada’s success since he first put the Team Canada jersey on.
As for McDavid and Makar, they are participating in their first Olympic Games. McDavid has previously captained Team Canada, leading the team at the 2018 World Championship. He registered five goals and 12 assists for 17 points in 10 games. Canada begins its quest for gold on February 12th, when it takes on Czechia.
