Sidney Crosby ruled out for Canada's Olympic semifinal game vs. Finland

Captain will miss key matchup due to right leg injury suffered in quarterfinal

Published on Mar. 1, 2026

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Hockey Canada announced on Friday that captain Sidney Crosby will not play in the Olympic semifinal game against Finland due to a right leg injury he suffered in Canada's 4-3 overtime win against Czechia in the quarterfinal round. Crosby, 38, is competing in his third Olympics and is tied for third on the Canadian roster with six points through four games.

Why it matters

Crosby's absence is a significant blow for Canada, who are seeking their first Olympic gold medal since 2014. As the team's captain and one of the best players in the world, Crosby's leadership and skill will be sorely missed in this crucial semifinal matchup.

The details

Crosby underwent an MRI after the quarterfinal game, and the results were not the "worst-case scenario," according to ESPN. However, his availability for either a bronze-medal or gold-medal game is still unclear. In Crosby's absence, Connor McDavid will serve as the captain, with Cale Makar and Nathan MacKinnon as alternates.

  • Crosby suffered the right leg injury in Canada's 4-3 overtime win against Czechia on Wednesday.
  • Hockey Canada announced Crosby will not play in the semifinal game against Finland on Friday.

The players

Sidney Crosby

38-year-old captain of the Canadian men's hockey team, competing in his third Olympics. He is tied for third on the Canadian roster with six points (two goals, four assists) through four games.

Connor McDavid

Will serve as the captain of the Canadian men's hockey team in Crosby's absence.

Cale Makar

Will serve as an alternate captain of the Canadian men's hockey team in Crosby's absence.

Nathan MacKinnon

Will serve as an alternate captain of the Canadian men's hockey team in Crosby's absence.

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What’s next

The availability of Crosby for either a bronze-medal or gold-medal game is still unclear.

The takeaway

The loss of captain Sidney Crosby due to injury raises concerns for Canada's chances of winning gold at the Olympics, as he is one of the team's best players and a key leader. The Canadian squad will need to rally around new captain Connor McDavid and other veteran players to overcome Crosby's absence in the semifinal matchup against Finland.