Celebrini Keeps Team Canada Hockey Captaincy as Crosby Arrives

Macklin Celebrini will stay captain of team canada hockey at the men’s world hockey championship even after Sidney Crosby joined the roster. The 19-year-old keeps the C as Canada heads into a short tournament in Zürich and Fribourg, Switzerland, from May 15 to 31.

Celebrini Keeps the C

Canada named Celebrini captain on Sunday before Crosby had officially declared he would play, and the decision now stands. Celebrini is the youngest-ever captain for the senior men’s team, a role he carries after a strong run on the international stage.

He won a silver medal with Canada at the Olympics in Milan, where he scored five goals and 10 points in six games. He also became the youngest Canadian to play at the Olympics and tied Jarome Iginla for the most goals scored by a Canadian at a tournament with NHL participation.

Crosby Returns Without the C

Crosby will represent Canada on the international stage for the first time since the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, but he will not wear the captain’s C. He was not part of Canada’s initial 23-man roster after his Pittsburgh Penguins lost to the Philadelphia Flyers in Round 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Instead, Crosby will serve as an alternate captain alongside John Tavares and Ryan O’Reilly. The group gives Canada veteran support around a teenage captain, with Crosby bringing 53 games, 27 goals, 43 assists and six medals with the Canadian senior men’s team.

France Win Before Sweden

Celebrini backed up the leadership call on Sunday with a four-point performance in Canada’s 6-1 win over France in the team’s first pre-tournament game for worlds. That outing gave him an early on-ice answer before the championship begins in Switzerland.

Canada opens the tournament Friday against Sweden, with the roster already set around Celebrini at the top and Crosby in an alternate role. For a team entering worlds with a 19-year-old captain, the next step is a fast one: turn the new structure into results immediately.