Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins will once again lead Team Canada on the international stage, named captain for the 2025 IIHF Men’s World Championship in Sweden and Denmark. He’ll be joined by alternate captains Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche and Ryan O’Reilly of the Nashville Predators, forming a veteran leadership group with deep chemistry and a history of success.
This marks Crosby’s first IIHF Worlds appearance since 2015, when he joined Canada mid-tournament and helped secure gold. Now, a decade later, the three-time Stanley Cup champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist returns as the face of the team from the outset.
MacKinnon, a fellow Nova Scotian and perennial All-Star with Colorado, has shared the ice with Crosby in multiple international tournaments, including the 2015 Worlds, the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, and most recently, the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off. O’Reilly, a Conn Smythe winner and two-way force, brings additional leadership experience from his time with teams like the St. Louis Blues and Toronto Maple Leafs, now anchoring the forward corps in Nashville.
Together, they bring a wealth of playoff grit, leadership, and elite hockey IQ—setting a high bar for a Canadian squad looking to reclaim gold on the world stage.
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