Canada will have to compete for Olympic gold without its longtime captain.
Sidney Crosby will not play in Sunday’s gold-medal game against the United States, the team confirmed before puck drop.
He suffered an injury during Canada’s quarterfinal contest against Czechia after he took a heavy hit from Czech defenceman Radko Gudas. He did not play in the semifinal against Finland.
Canada GM Doug Armstrong told the CBC Olympics panel that Crosby made the decision he shouldn’t play in the gold-medal game.
“It was obviously a drawn-out process in the sense he skated, he went through his rehab, met the coach, doctors, discussed the game plan and how he could be used, and at the end of the day he thought the opportunity should go to somebody else,” Armstrong said.
“You let the athlete make that decision,” Armstrong continued. “He knows his body. He knows what he can and can’t do.”
The 38-year-old has two goals and four assists in four games this tournament — his third Olympic Games.
Connor McDavid will continue to wear the ‘C’ in Crosby’s absence.
Head coach Jon Cooper had told reporters that Crosby would only dress if he was cleared to play.
Defenceman Josh Morrissey, who suffered an injury in Canada’s tournament opener, has also been ruled out for the gold-medal game.
Neither team is making any lineup changes from the semifinals.
Watch the game at 8:10 a.m. ET / 5:10 a.m. PT on CBC Gem or Sportsnet+.
