OLYMPICS: Ice hockey-'Feels like yesterday': Time flies for Games veteran Crosby

MILAN, Italy – Sidney Crosby returned to the Olympics after 12 years, stepping onto the ice at the Milano Cortina Games for the first time as Canada’s captain. Despite the long gap, Crosby said some moments felt like no time had passed at all.

The future Hall of Famer is among the few returning Olympians in Milano Cortina, where the NHL is allowing its players to compete in the Games for the first time since 2014, putting the men’s hockey tournament in the spotlight.

“Some days it feels like 12 (years) and other days it feels like yesterday,” Crosby, who scored Canada’s famous “golden goal” in 2010 and helped the team win gold again in 2014, told reporters. “There’s been a lot of anticipation ever since we found out we were going back to the Olympics… So it’s just great to be with the guys, get out there and get to work.”

Crosby and his teammates arrived in Milan and quickly moved onto the ice for their first practice at Santagiulia Arena on Sunday, with little time to spare ahead of Wednesday’s tournament kickoff.

Led by Pittsburgh Penguins center Crosby, Canada enters the Games as a favorite after defeating rivals United States in last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off tournament.

Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid, another marquee player on Canada’s accomplished roster, praised Crosby’s leadership ahead of his own Olympic debut.

“He’s been here and done that and played in the biggest moments and succeeded,” McDavid said. “Just a calming presence… a guy that doesn’t get too high or too low.”

Canada will open its Olympic campaign with a Group A game against the Czech Republic on Thursday. -Reporting by Amy Tennery in MilanEditing by Toby Davis/Reuters