Sidney Crosby to Play in 2015 IIHF World Championships
The Pittsburgh Penguins’ season is over.
But that doesn’t mean that Pens captain Sidney Crosby is ready to stop playing hockey.
For the first time since 2006 – Crosby’s rookie season – the Canadian superstar will join his countrymen for the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship.
This year’s iteration will take place in Prague and Ostrava in the Czech Republic.
Team Canada could certainly use Crosby’s presence. The usual international powerhouse has found little success at the World Championships lately, with Canada’s top talent usually embedded in NHL playoff hockey. Canada has finished in 5th place for the last four consecutive years, and has failed to medal since their silver finish in 2009.
With Crosby on the roster, however, the team will be significantly more competitive.
It’s an interesting situation for Crosby himself as well, as the Canadian talent thus far signed on to the World Championship team doesn’t consist of players the Pens captain has usually played alongside internationally.
High profile names such as Tyler Seguin, Jordan Eberle, and Taylor Hall should present interesting options in terms of line combinations, especially with Crosby in the mix.
The most interesting of these, however, will be the presence of Philadelphia Flyers’ captain Claude Giroux – who’s taken part in a longtime, well-documented, rivalry with Crosby.
Crosby and Giroux won’t suit up on the same line, as both play the centre position, but there’s a good bet they share the ice on Team Canada’s top powerplay unit.
It’ll be a strange sight, to say the least, but also an an intriguing one, as the two possess the raw talent to put forth some astounding highlight reel plays.
Flyers forward Brayden Schenn, who’s also had some notable on-ice run-ins with Crosby, has also been named to the team, presenting even more potential locker-room awkwardness.
The presence of other elite offensive talents, such as Jason Spezza, Matt Duchene, and the young Nathan MacKinnon, ensure Canada will remain one of the tournament’s most electrifying squads.
With the New York Islanders eliminated from the playoffs by Washington, there’s a good chance captain John Tavares could join the Canadian team as well, further bolstering the country’s chances at a medal.
The IIHF will certainly be glad to have Crosby back in the fold as well. Besides seeing the tournament’s profile raised tenfold due to the star centreman’s presence, Crosby is a good bet to emerge as one of the tournament’s top performers.
Back in 2006, Crosby finished as the tournament’s leading scorer (tallying 16 points in 9 games) and being named the World Championship Best Forward.
Team Canada begins their tournament run on May 1st, and all eyes will be on Crosby to once again guide the Canadians to international glory.