Penguins captain Sidney Crosby captained Team Canada to a 6-1 victory in the finals of the 2015 IIHF World Championship on Sunday. Crosby had a goal and an assist in Canada’s championship game victory over teammate Evgeni Malkin and Russia.
Team Canada dominated the tournament, winning all ten games and averaging over six goals per game. Malkin and Russia were unable to repeat as champions, but he had a goal in the final and earned a silver medal. Team USA won the bronze medal game over the Czech Republic, 3-0.
With the win, Crosby joined elite company as the 26th member of the Triple Gold Club. The club is composed of players that have won an Olympic gold medal, a Stanley Cup Final, and a World Championship.
Crosby is the first player to be the captain of all three championship-winning teams. He previously won Olympic Gold with Canada in 2010 and 2014 and the Stanley Cup with the Penguins in 2009.
“It’s nice,” Crosby said of the achievement. “Obviously, it means you’re part of some great teams that have been in different events.”
Crosby played much of the tournament alongside a player that he usually lines up against: Philadelphia Flyers captain Claude Giroux. The two were able to put their differences aside for their national team. Crosby finished the tournament with four goals and seven assists.
“I think the way that guys jelled; we had some guys that played together on teams back home, some different rivalries and things like that,” Crosby said. “Everyone came together really nicely and we got better as it went on.”
MVP: The tournament’s leading scorer was Dallas Stars and Team Canada forward Jason Spezza, but it was a familiar face to Penguins fans that took home the MVP award.
Czech forward and former Penguins first-round draft pick Jaromir Jagr, who had come of his international hockey retirement to play for the host team, was named MVP.
“Finishing at home in my country, I think it’s time to go,” he said following his team’s bronze medal game defeat. “I still love the game, but it’s kind of tough to play with guys who are 20 years younger than me.”
Jagr also said that he plans to return to the Florida Panthers for his 22nd NHL season in 2015-16.
Photo credit: IIHF/HHOF Images
