Olympic return a long time coming for Crosby, Doughty
Sidney Crosby and Drew Doughty are used to this, even if it’s been 12 years. When NHL talents arrive in the Athletes’ Village at the Olympics, they’re often swarmed by other athletes who are, in many ways, their equal and in others, certainly not.
Two of the oldest players on Canada’s men’s hockey team for Milan Cortina 2026, they are the only ones with previous Olympic experience, having won gold medals at Vancouver 2010 and Sochi 2014, the last Games featuring NHL talent.
As Canada’s NHL players arrived in the Milan Athletes’ Village on Sunday, one of six athletes’ villages across Northern Italy, it didn’t take long for other Canadians and international athletes to take to social media with photos alongside their stars.
“I think there are some days that it feels like 12 [years] and other days it feels like yesterday,” Crosby said, having also been named the Canadian captain as he was at the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off and 2014 Olympics.
“There’s been a lot of anticipation ever since we found out we were going back to the Olympics.”
Part of a Bigger Team
Canada’s men’s hockey roster includes 25 players. But for the first time, many of them are part of a much bigger Team Canada — the 207-member Olympic team, all equals in the eyes of the Canadian Olympic Committee, competition, accommodation, and outfitting.
“You have to be open-minded and go with the flow. There are always different things, whether it’s your team or different things that come up,” said Crosby, now 38, 16 years after making his Olympic debut. “You just have to embrace the whole experience. It’s a special one, not only representing hockey but the entire Team Canada and celebrating sports.”
The NHL players all stayed in the Athletes’ Village for at least their first night of the Olympic journey, and have the option to move into hotel accommodation as arranged by the NHLPA afterwards, should they wish.
After 12 years, here’s Sidney Crosby is back at the Olympic Games. Most of the NHL players get into Milan today and teams are on the ice for first practices. Canada open the tournament vs. Czechia on Thursday at 10:40am ET.
In the village, they will meet other hockey players, long and short-track speed skaters, and figure skaters. Other sports, including ski racing and freestyle skiing, which often feature some of the most avid hockey fans among the athlete base at the Olympics, are held at other venue clusters in Northern Italy.
While some nations hit the ice earlier in the week without many NHL players, Canada didn’t get into its first session at the main rink, PalaItalia Santa Giulia arena, until Sunday. Hitting that ice for the first time as Olympians, there’s little doubt many imagined the scenes that could be at that venue in 14 days’ time at the Feb. 22 gold medal game.
“It means so much. It has been so long since the last one,” Doughty said of being back at the Olympics. “[Gold] is all you think about when you come here, but you put that on the back burner and try to think about the game at hand and the period at hand. That is just the way she goes… It should be a lot of fun.”
Olympic Rookies Embrace the Moment
While Crosby and Doughty bring experience to the Games, the Olympic journey will likely be defined by Canada’s electrifying Olympic rookies, with the likes of Connor McDavid, Mitch Marner, Macklin Celebrini and others seeking their iconic moments on sports’ biggest stage.
For McDavid, the Olympic experiences come after authoring the greatest goal of a new generation when he beat Connor Hellebuyck to win the 4 Nations Face-Off last year. That moment, as iconic as it was given the dearth of international hockey and initial annexation threats from U.S. President Donald Trump, likely pales in comparison to the potential of Olympic gold.
“Crosby has been there and done that, played in the biggest moments and succeeded, and is a calming presence,” the Edmonton Oilers star said. “I’m excited to be here and be with the guys and get out there and see the rink and get our first skate under us… It’s been a long time coming.”
Meanwhile, for head coach Jon Cooper, the chance to coach at an Olympics isn’t lost on him as an avid follower outside of hockey. At the same time, he represents Prince George, BC, and steps onto the Olympic stage just days after another athlete from the city of 89,000, Meryeta O’Dine, who won two snowboard cross medals at Beijing 2022, pulled out due to injury.
The Canadian men’s hockey team is locked in at #MilanoCortina2026🔒🏒
“When you walk into that Olympic Village for the first time, and you’re surrounded by the world’s greatest athletes, and to see them, in the meal room or in the lounge, it’s humbling to be there. It’s eye-opening,” Cooper said. “I’ve watched the Olympics every four years my entire life. Now to actually be here and see it and see the passion is super cool.”
Canada will have three more days of preparation before dropping the puck on Thursday at 10:40 am ET/7:40 am PT against Czechia to open the tournament, as they look to top Group A ahead of Czechia, France and Switzerland and advance without playing qualification games.
Without NHL players, Canada has not won either of the last two tournaments, finishing with bronze at PyeongChang 2018 and a quarterfinal exit at Beijing 2022. Should they fall short of the podium in Milan, it would be the first time Canada has not medalled at back-to-back Games — but that’s not in any of their minds.
“There’s been a lot of anticipation,” Crosby told CBC. “It was great to just get out there and play and to start to go over things, you can prepare on paper and with video, but it’s fun to get out there with the guys.”
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