Sport

Crosby to lead Canadians Olympic ice hockey team

12:45 pm on 8 January 2014

Superstar Sidney Crosby headlines the Canadian men's Olympic ice hockey roster that has been revealed to defend the country's gold medal at next month's Sochi Winter Games.

Crosby, who scored the golden goal that capped off the 2010 Vancouver Games, is among 11 returning Olympians to a 25-man team.

Vancouver Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo, who backstopped Canada's gold medal effort in 2010, is back in net along with newcomers Carey Price of the Montreal Canadiens and Mike Smith of the Phoenix Coyotes.

The defence will be anchored by Jay Bouwmeester and Alex Pietrangelo of the St. Louis Blues and Montreal's PK Subban, the National Hockey League's reigning top defenceman.

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Crosby, who leads the NHL in scoring with 63 points in 44 games this season, will lead a Canadian offence that boasts plenty of firepower.

Tampa Bay Lightning sniper Steven Stamkos, who has not played since suffering a broken leg nearly two months ago, was included but could be dropped for another player if he is unfit.