Sidney Crosby will be suiting up for Canada at this month’s IIHF World Championship.
Hockey Canada announced Tuesday that the Pittsburgh Penguins captain and national program legend will be joining the team. But New York Islanders forward Mathew Barzal is out with an undisclosed injury.
ROSTER UPDATE | Sidney Crosby has been added to 🇨🇦’s National Men’s Team for #MensWorlds.
— Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) May 12, 2026
MISE À JOUR | Sidney Crosby s’ajoute à l’équipe nationale masculine du 🇨🇦 pour le #MondialMasculin. pic.twitter.com/O9lh7dt69e
The worlds, set to begin later this week in Switzerland, will be the 38-year-old Crosby’s ninth senior tournament for the Cole Harbour, NS native and fourth world championship appearance. Crosby has previously appeared at the worlds in 2006, 2015 and at last year’s edition. He won gold in 2015 in Prague.
A two-time Olympic gold medalist, Crosby has 27 goals and 43 assists in 53 senior appearances. Most recently, Crosby suited up for Canada at this past February’s Milano Cortina Olympics, but was forced to exit the tournament in the quarter-finals against Czechia.
Crosby just completed his 21st NHL season, scoring 29 goals and adding 45 assists in 68 games. He had a goal and four assists in the Pens’ six-game loss to the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.
A 28-year-old native of Coquitlam, BC, Barzal appeared in 81 games for the Isles this season, scoring 19 goals and notching 53 assists. Barzal was set to appear at his third worlds for Canada and first since 2022. He had two goals and 13 assists in 19 games across two tournaments.
Hockey Canada says the injury to Barzal is “minor” and calls the withdrawal a “precaution.”
Canada opens its tournament on Friday against Sweden. Czechia, Denmark, Slovakia, Norway and Italy make up the rest of Group B.
