Canada's captain, Sidney Crosby, has been ruled out for the 2026 Winter Olympics men’s hockey gold medal game against Team USA. This highly anticipated matchup marks a rivalry clash 12 years in the making since NHL players last participated in the Games, serving as a rematch of the 2002 and 2010 finals, both previously won by Canada. Team USA is aiming for its third men's hockey gold medal, while Canada seeks its tenth. Canada's journey to the final included dominating its preliminary group with a 20-3 goal differential, beating Czech Republic, Switzerland, and France. However, they faced significant challenges in the knockout stage, securing come-from-behind victories against Czech Republic, where Nick Suzuki and Mitch Marner scored clutch goals, and Finland, where Nathan MacKinnon netted the go-ahead goal with 36 seconds left. Former NHL player Chris Pronger noted the gold medal game would be Canada's biggest test. Team USA, after cruising through a comparatively weak group, saw strong performances from players like Jack Hughes, who shined in the semifinals, and Dylan Larkin, who has been pivotal with his play and leadership. Forward Tage Thompson, who suffered a lower-body injury in the semifinal, was hopeful to play after participating in practice. The gold medal game will be broadcast on NBC and Peacock in the USA, and CBC, Sportsnet, and TSN in Canada.