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“Captain moment”: Sidney Crosby sparks Team Canada stick tap as Kevin Fiala is stretchered off
Photo credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Sidney Crosby watched Kevin Fiala go down, then led Team Canada onto the ice with real emotion as Switzerland’s star was stretchered off.
Canada was cruising past Switzerland at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics, then the rink went quiet in a hurry.
Late in the third period, Fiala got tangled up in a collision with Tom Wilson and his left leg twisted underneath him.
Fiala stayed down, not moving that leg, and the medical crew brought out the stretcher.
That’s when Crosby did the captain thing you can’t coach. He motioned the bench, hopped the boards, and the Canadians followed.
The moment is making the rounds on X, and you can see how fast the game stops feeling like a game.
Every Canadian skater lined up on the ice and started tapping sticks as the arena stood and applauded.
You can feel it through the screen, even if you’re cheering against the red jerseys.
Sidney Crosby turns Team Canada into humans
Canadians love winning, but we love class even more, and this was pure class from a bench full of superstars.
Crosby had already scored in this one, a slick finish that pushed the game to 4-1 earlier in the third.
Canada eventually closed it out 5-1, but nobody cared about the score during that stoppage.
This is the side of Crosby that teammates rave about, the instant read of the room, the calm, and the leadership without the speech.
It also matters because Wilson plays on the edge, and moments like this keep a scary injury from turning into a nasty international incident.
Now the big thing is Fiala’s update, and how Switzerland reshuffles if he misses time.
The Olympics move fast, but players don’t forget who showed respect when it got scary.
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