The world has been patiently waiting for NHL stars to return to the Olympics. So far, they haven’t disappointed on any fronts. (Credit: NHL)
Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid, Brad Marchand, they’re just like us. Well, at least maybe on a day off.
Having some time to themselves on Tuesday, Feb. 10, before taking on Czechia in their opening game of the 2026 Olympics on Thursday, captain Crosby made a plan for the Canadian men’s hockey team to take the Milan metro and check out what the city has to offer.
From watching their compatriots battle their way to a silver medal in short track speed skating, to local fans being stunned to see some of hockey’s biggest stars standing alongside them on the train, to having goaltender Jordan Binnington “volun-told” to take on tour duties, there were plenty of memorable moments made in absorbing all that Milan has to offer during the Olympics.
“He pulled through,” Bo Horvat said of Binnington showing them around. “He was our tour guide for the day. He did a great job. He got everybody there and everybody home.”
Imagine getting set for your morning commute and all of a sudden you’re inching your way to some breathing room on the subway alongside Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and Drew Doughty. Good luck jockeying for position.
McDavid and Crosby were actually standing right beside each other on the metro, so there’s someone who would have paid a measly public transit fee to stand right next to them.
While local fans and social media were abuzz with Canada’s NHL stars functioning like regular human beings, “Sid the Kid” unsurprisingly didn’t see what all the hoopla was about, focusing instead — like a true captain — on the significance of bonding together as teammates as they strive for gold.
“I don’t know why it’s a big deal we took public transportation,” Crosby said. “I think it was just a good opportunity for us to be together as a group regardless of how we got there or what we went to.”
Going back to what happened before the subway ride, Marchand was leading the way in terms of cheering on Canada’s speed skating athletes, even getting Crosby and MacKinnon to join in on the wave.
There was plenty of reason to cheer, too. Canada’s William Dandjinou, Courtney Sarault, Felix Roussel, and Kim Boutin put on a show for the star NHLers and everyone else in attendance, winning Olympic silver in the short track speed skating mixed team relay final.
“To see the intensity between the laps, how fast the athletes are going, one little mistake, how it can derail a competition not only for yourself, but for other players as well, it was awesome to be there and to root on Canada,” Marchand said. “It just shows that the level of separation between winning and losing, at any level, is so small. But at this level, you’re dealing with the best of the best in every sport, and the margins for error are so small.”
A day earlier on Feb. 9, Team Canada also caught social media’s attention as they visited Milan’s cathedral, Duomo di Milano.
Many fell in love with the group photo, from Brad Marchand appearing to jump in it to look taller, to Crosby looking like he’s supervising a school field trip as the oldest player of the group at 38 years old.
Having this chance to be an Olympian is something these athletes want to make the most of with NHLers unable to compete in 2018 and 2022. Now in Milan, they are certainly intent on soaking it all in and may have had some of their plans thought out well before arrival.
The opportunity to disconnect certainly seemed to do the men’s hockey team some good as they come out on Thursday against Czechia and put on an absolutely clinic with a 5-0 win.
Bo Horvat, Nick Suzuki, Mark Stone, Macklin Celebrini, and MacKinnon were the scorers in what was a comprehensive display throughout the three periods. McDavid racked up three assists while Crosby had two. Marchand and Mitch Marner also got on the assist column.
Maybe cheering on their fellow Canadians in other events and riding the metro is part of the winning formula now. Remember, as the saying goes, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
With files from the Associated Press.