Celebrini Keeps Canada Captaincy as Crosby Joins Mens Worlds Hockey
Macklin Celebrini will stay Canada’s captain for mens worlds hockey even after Sidney Crosby joined the roster. The 19-year-old keeps the C as Canada heads into a tournament in Zürich and Fribourg, Switzerland, with its first game coming Friday against Sweden.
Celebrini Keeps the C
Canada named Celebrini captain on Sunday before Crosby officially declared for the team, and that order still stands. Celebrini is the youngest-ever captain for Canada’s senior men’s team, a rare assignment for a player who turned that role into another marker of his quick rise.
He arrives at worlds after a four-point performance in Canada’s 6-1 win over France in a pre-tournament game on Sunday. That game added another layer to his tournament load: he has already shown he can produce while carrying the captaincy.
Crosby Returns Without the C
Crosby will not wear the C when he represents Canada on the international stage for the first time since the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. He will serve as an alternate captain alongside John Tavares and Ryan O’Reilly, giving Canada three veteran voices behind Celebrini’s lead.
The timing of Crosby’s arrival made the captaincy decision more notable. He was not part of the team’s initial 23-man roster after the Pittsburgh Penguins were eliminated by the Philadelphia Flyers in Round 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but Canada did not shift the top leadership role once he joined.
Celebrini’s Rapid Rise
Celebrini’s recent record helps explain why Canada kept him in front. He captured a silver medal with Canada at the Olympics in Milan, posted five goals and 10 points in six games there, 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’s track record remains the heavier one behind him. He has played 53 games with the Canadian senior men’s team, produced 27 goals and 43 assists, and led Canada to six medals on the world stage. For this tournament, though, the captaincy stays with the 19-year-old while the veteran arrives as a support piece in Switzerland.
Canada opens Friday against Sweden, and the setup is already clear: Celebrini leads on the jersey, Crosby backs him up, and the team enters the tournament with its leadership order settled before the first puck drop.
