Pittsburgh Penguins’ Sidney Crosby Named Captain of Team Canada

Jan 10, 2014; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Pittsburgh Penguins forward Sidney Crosby (87) looks for a pass against the Edmonton Oilers at Rexall Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports

In what really shouldn’t come as much of a surprise to anyone, Pittsburgh Penguins’ centerSidney Crosbygot himself another honor on Sunday.

Crosby was named captain of the 2014 Canadian Olympic Team, as announced Sunday morning by Hockey Canada.

The best player in the NHL was an alternate captain for Canada at the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver when he secured the gold medal for his country by scoring the overtime game-winning goal in a 3-2 defeat of the United States. Anaheim Ducks defensemanScott Niedermayerwas captain of the 2010 team, but has since retired.

This is the first time that Crosby has represented his country as their captain as he also served as an alternate captain at the 2006 World Championships.

Crosby leads the NHL in scoring with 68 points, 10 ahead of fellow Team Canada membersRyan GetzlafandJohn Tavares.

Chicago Blackhawks captainJonathan Toewsand Nashville Predators captainShea Weberwere named alternate captains.

A case could have been made for Toews as Team Canada’s captain, especially since he has experienced a little more playoff success at the NHL level than Crosby has recently, but Canada couldn’t go wrong by giving the honor to Crosby.

Crosby is the fourth NHL player to be named team captain for their respective countries as Russia already namedPavel Datsyukof the Detroit Red Wings as captain. Slovakia did the same withZdeno Charaof the Boston Bruins andTomas Plekanecof the Montreal Canadiens got the honor for the Czech Republic.

The United States is expected to announce their captain closer to the Olympics, which start next month.