Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid together again as Canadian Olympians

Article content

Mamma Mia, that’s quite the starting six who are coming back for Canada‘s Olympic hockey team in Italy at the 2026 Games.

Hockey Canada announced Monday afternoon that the bulk of its 4 Nations Face-Off tournament champions are returning among the first half-dozen declared selections.

They include the generational stars in Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby, plus Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Brayden Point and Sam Reinhart.

General manager Doug Armstrong, assistants Julien BriseBois, Jim Nill, Don Sweeney, director of player personnel Kyle Dubas and head coach Jon Cooper made the picks with with input from player relations advisor Ryan Getzlaf and Hockey Canada staff.

“Sidney, Nathan, Cale, Connor, Brayden and Sam provide a strong foundation for a successful team,” Armstrong said in a release. “(They) have been proven winners at all levels of their professional and international careers, and we look forward to all six being key contributors to our team as we look to accomplish our goal of winning Olympic gold.”

Crosby is a two-time Olympic champion in 2010 and 2014 and is a veteran of 1,352 NHL games, while Colorado Avalanche stars MacKinnon and Makar, Edmonton’s McDavid, Tampa Bay’s Point and Reinhart of the Florida Panthers will make their Olympic debuts at Milan-Cortina.

The NHL has not participated in the Winter Games since 2014.

“I am honoured to be named,” Crosby said. “I am grateful for the opportunity to represent Canada at the Olympics, as I know how much pride comes with wearing the Maple Leaf on the international stage.”

The tournament will take place Feb. 11-22, during Days 5-to-16 of the Games at Milano Arena and Milano Santa Giulia Arena.

lhornby@postmedia.com

X: @sunhornby