MILAN — Sidney Crosby is absent from the roster for Sunday’s Olympic gold medal contest.
The captain of the Canadian team was sidelined from the semifinal match versus Finland due to a lower-body ailment sustained during the quarterfinals against Czechia. On Saturday, Canada’s coach, Jon Cooper, had labeled Crosby’s availability a game-time judgment.
Scans disclosed that Crosby’s injury averted the most severe outcome, as sources informed ESPN. Crosby made every effort to rejoin the tournament, including consulting numerous specialists available in Milan.
Sources mentioned that his prospects for playing in the gold medal contest had been moving favorably.
Crosby practiced on the ice both Friday and Saturday; however, Canada restricted media access to these sessions, a departure from the squad’s customary procedures earlier in the competition.
Crosby sustained an injury approximately halfway through the Czechia game while attempting to absorb a hit from defenseman Radko Gudas. The incident concluded awkwardly, with Gudas falling atop Crosby.
Crosby, aged 38, stands as the eldest and most accomplished athlete on Canada’s lineup, particularly following his overtime golden goal that clinched victory against the United States at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.