MILAN — There was cautious optimism from Canada that captain Sidney Crosby may play again at the2026 Winter Olympics.
Crosby has been dealing with an injury to his right leg, leaving his status for themen's hockey tournament's gold medal gamein limbo.
"I watched him skate today," Canada coach Jon Cooper said Feb. 21. "We're going to meet tonight and have a determination of what's going to happen tomorrow. He won't. … He won't put himself in harm's way, and he's not going to put the team in harm's way."
Canada and USAface off in the gold medal game on Feb. 22 (8 a.m. ET)at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. Canada closed its practice on Feb. 21 to avoid having reporters see what was happening.
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Crosby was injured when his right leg buckled as he absorbed a hit from Radko Gudas during the quarterfinal game against Czechia, right after which Crosby also got crunched by Martin Necas. Crosby missed Canada's semifinal against Finland.
Crosby, 38, has two goals and four assists in four games. He is going for his third Olympic gold medal after winning at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics and the 2014 Sochi Olympics.
Crosby is Canada's captain. In international hockey, there has to be a player serving as captain in a game, so Canada had Connor McDavid wear the "C' in the semifinal victory over Finland.
If Crosby cannot play, Cooper said Canada will not do what Team Sweden did, which was have injured Victor Hedman dress and sit on the bench.
"It's too important," Cooper said. "We don't want to have somebody in there as an inspiration when we could have a player that could be capable of helping. You never know if guys are going get hurt in the game. He wouldn't want to do that either."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Sidney Crosby injury update: Not ruled out for Canada-USA gold game
