Sidney Crosby selected to compete in third Winter Olympic Games for Team Canada

Sidney Crosby will be hoping to make it three gold medals when he takes to the ice with the Canada hockey team at Beijing 2022. The two-time Olympic champion, at Vancouver 2010 and Sochi 2014, was one of three players named on Sunday (3 October) to the men’s side.

Alex Pietrangelo and Connor McDavid were also named, with Pietrangelo making his second Olympic team, and McDavid his debut.

Team Canada general manager, Doug Armstrong, who made the announcement, said in an interview with NHL.com, “Those guys are at the top of their game in the League too, and they're proven winners".

Armstrong also talked honestly about his relationship with Crosby.

“I've talked to Sid more than any (player) just because of my past relationship with him, and he'll be our leader," Armstrong said. "We go back to the 2010 Olympics. I wouldn't call us best friends, but I feel comfortable calling him on the phone, and he feels comfortable picking it up.”

Sid the Kid (as Crosby is known) is also a three-time Stanley Cup champion with the Pittsburgh Penguins and considered one of the greatest hockey players of all time.

Defenceman Pietrangelo, who plays for the Vegas Golden Knights, won the Stanley Cup in 2019 with the St Louis Blues, and anchored Canada's dominant back line during its gold medal run at Sochi.

At the age of 24, McDavid is already the Edmonton Oilers captain and a two-time Hart Memorial Trophy winner as the most valuable player in the NHL.

Team Canada management has up to 15 October to name the additional 55 players for their Beijing team who they hope will win a tenth Olympic gold, and put to bed the shock 4-3 loss to Germany in the semi-finals at PyeongChang 2018.