Sidney Crosby to play at world hockey championship for Canada

Canada has bolstered its roster for the upcoming world hockey championship with the addition of centre Sidney Crosby.

The Cole Harbour, N.S., native is usually active in the Stanley Cup playoffs when the worlds begins but was available this year after the Pittsburgh Penguins dropped a five-game first-round series to the New York Rangers.

"Any time you can represent Canada, it's an honour," Crosby said. "I looked at the roster Hockey Canada has put together and I'm excited about the opportunity we have to win gold."

Crosby, who had two goals and four points in the series, finished third in NHL scoring in the regular season with 84 points in 77 games on 28 goals and 56 assists.

This year's world tourney, to be held in Prague and Ostrava, will mark the seventh time Sid the Kid has represented Canada in international competition. Most recently, he captained Canada to a gold medal at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

At the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver, Crosby scored the overtime winner against the United States.

Crosby played in his first worlds in 2006, leading the tournament in scoring and earning top forward honours. He also competed at two world junior championships, winning a silver medal in 2004 and gold in 2005.

The 27-year-old made his international hockey debut with the Canadian national men's summer under-18 team at the 2003 Junior World Cup, winning gold and leading the team in scoring as an under-age player.

Canada's roster for this year's worlds sits at 21 players, including 14 forwards, five defencemen and two goalies. The team can register up to 25 players, including three goalies, who are not involved in the NHL playoffs.

Former San Jose coach Todd McLellan will lead a young team that also includes forwards Taylor Hall, Tyler Seguin, Claude Giroux and Nathan MacKinnon and defenceman Aaron Ekblad.

The tournament begins May 1 with the Canadians facing Latvia at 10:15 a.m. ET.