Pittsburgh Penguins forward Sidney Crosby is among 99 Canadians named to the Order of Canada on Thursday.
Mary Simon, governor general of Canada, revealed the names of those selected, a list that includes people from throughout Canada recognized for their extraordinary contributions to their homeland.
“What a beautiful way to end the year, honouring Order of Canada appointees and learning about the depth and range of their accomplishments,” Simon said in a news release. “Their commitment to the betterment of Canada fills me with pride and hope for the future.”
More than 7,600 people have been honored since the Order of Canada was created in 1967, given to those “whose service has shaped our society, whose innovations have ignited our imaginations, and whose compassion has united our communities,” according to the news release.
A two-time Olympic gold medalist with Team Canada in 2010 and 2014, Crosby has the 14th-most points among all Canadian-born players in NHL history with 1,452. The 35-year-old also has won a World Championship (2015) and the World Cup (2017).
Born in Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, Crosby was the No. 1 overall pick of the 2005 NHL Draft by the Penguins.
Other athletes to receive the 2022 honor include Karina LeBlanc, who represented Canada at five FIFA World Cups from 1999 to 2015. She now is the general manager of the Portland Thorns FC.
–Field Level Media