Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon emerged for Team Canada’s optional practice on Thursday as if it was any other day.
Naturally, they were first to arrive. Unnaturally, the duo might have some sort of superhuman work ethic.
Because Crosby and MacKinnon were the only skaters, aside from Canada’s healthy scratches, to brave a Montreal snowstorm and further hone their craft — when less than 12 hours earlier they were the last two players doing media availability until midnight following Canada’s thrilling 4-3 overtime win against Sweden at the 4 Nations Face-Off.
Crosby had three assists in the game, including a helper on Mitch Marner‘s OT winner, and played 17:10. MacKinnnon scored one goal and played nearly 20 minutes. No matter. The Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia-bred teammates and close friends would not be denied a chance to improve further, even without a single coach on their section of the sheet. It was just a pair of superstars, doing drills and working on one-timers.
“Those two, they’re hockey junkies,” Canada coach Jon Cooper said. “It’s really cool to be a part of this with them. Everything is about the game, and they talk about the game, they live the game, and you don’t see that a ton. When you rise to this level, you can have a tendency to take your foot off the gas or get used to the life. But those two, they don’t take it for granted.”
Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon wrap up their on-ice session by picking up after themselves, of course pic.twitter.com/C9H6eFmjez
— Kristen Shilton (@kristen_shilton) February 13, 2025
That’s especially true for Crosby, who almost missed the tournament entirely with an upper-body injury that forced him out of the Pittsburgh Penguins‘ final two games before the NHL’s schedule broke for 4 Nations. Crosby had previously been named Team Canada’s captain, and he has acted as such by participating fully (and then some) in every team session.
“It’s his leadership, it’s unmatched,” said Crosby’s tournament teammate Sam Bennett. “He’s a true professional. He’s a guy that just loves the game. You can tell. He always wants to be out there and always wants to be around the guys. It’s pretty impressive to see firsthand. I’ve obviously idolized him my whole life, and to see how hard he works, it’s inspirational.”
MacKinnon kept Crosby company despite clocking the third-most minutes among Canada’s forwards in Wednesday’s win.
Cooper imagines that even if most of the team’s players weren’t there in person to see how some of the sports’ top talents stay at their peak, they’ll take something from the way Crosby and MacKinnon just can’t get enough of the grind.
“You can see players watch them,” Cooper said. “They watch what they do. I think when you leave these events, you’re going to take away the experience and the euphoria. But you hope you take away the example of what the leaders and the guys who really have a passion for this, how they act, how they conduct themselves.
“When they show up to the rink, what they do at the rink, how long they’re at the podium. When they stop and talk to fans on the street and all those things that just promote the wellness of the game, and those two guys have it.”
Canada will face Team USA on Saturday (8 p.m. ET on ABC).