Sidney Crosby leads Canada’s Olympic orientation camp as the team’s veteran presence. The 38-year-old captain brings two Olympic gold medals to a roster eager to learn from his international experience.
His younger teammates understand they’re witnessing hockey history in the making.
“It’s not lost on us, our generation. The biggest motivation there is for us (is) it doesn’t look like the window is closing for him any time soon.”
Sam Reinhart shared those thoughts with NHL.com’s Dan Rosen as the team prepares for February’s Winter Games in Milan and Cortina.
Reinhart and Crosby played together at the 4 Nations Face-Off this past winter. Both were among the first six players selected for Canada’s Olympic roster.
Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and Brayden Point round out that initial group.
“For our generation, for him to still be here and be the captain and still play a massive role, it’s special. It’s special for all of us.”
The 28-year-old McDavid understands what Crosby brings to international competition.
Crosby scored the golden goal at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver. He captained Canada to another gold medal at the 2014 tournament in Sochi.
NHL players haven’t participated in Olympic competition since 2014. Crosby remained optimistic about returning to the international stage throughout that absence.
“With the way things went with so many things out of our control the two prior times, you know, I try not to think too far ahead and try to let it play out, and I was pretty confident that we’d find a way to get back, and I wanted to be a part of that, obviously.”
The men’s Olympic tournament runs from Feb. 12-22 in Italy.
Canada has won the past four international best-on-best events. Crosby’s been on each championship team, bringing unmatched experience to Milan and Cortina.
His teammates aren’t taking that leadership for granted as they prepare for another gold medal pursuit.
