HIGHLIGHTS
- Marc-Andre Fleury is joining Team Canada for the IIHF World Championship shortly after retiring from the NHL.
- The move reunites Fleury with longtime Pittsburgh Penguins teammate Sidney Crosby.
- Read below for full details on Fleury’s decision, his first Worlds appearance, and the reunion with Crosby.
Marc-Andre Fleury is heading overseas to represent Team Canada at the IIHF World Championships.
Fleury’s agent, Allan Walsh, posted on X that Fleury has accepted Team Canada’s invitation to the IIHF Worlds.
This comes just days after Fleury officially retired from the NHL following a legendary 21-year career. But apparently, retirement life isn’t quite sticking just yet, as Fleury couldn’t resist the urge to lace up the pads for one more international run.
“I went home and the kids were crazy, so I said I gotta keep playing,” Fleury jokingly stated in his press conference on Monday.
While Flower always has jokes, a big pull is undoubtedly the chance to play with Sidney Crosby again. Sid announced he was joining Team Canada just ahead of Fleury, setting up a reunion for the recently retired goalie and his former longtime teammate.
Sid and Flower won three Stanley Cups together in Pittsburgh (2009, 2016, and 2017). Fleury was taken by Vegas in the 2017 Expansion Draft, and now gets to reunite with Crosby on the international stage. Fleury mentioned being excited to “yell at Sid in practice a bit” again.
Surprisingly, this is the first time Fleury will play for Team Canada at the Men’s World Championship. His deep NHL playoff runs usually kept him busy this time of year.
Flower did win two silvers at the World Juniors back in ’03 and ’04 and was the third goalie on the 2010 Olympic gold medal squad in Vancouver, though he didn’t play in any games.
Canada definitely needed goaltending help, having initially only rostered New York Rangers prospect Dylan Garand. Even at 40, the newly retired Fleury will likely play a key role.
Fleury might share the Canadian net with another NHLer yet to be named – Jordan Binnington has been mentioned now that St. Louis is eliminated.
If Canada wins gold, Fleury would become the first goalie ever to join the prestigious Triple Gold Club (Stanley Cup, Olympic Gold, World Championship Gold). That would be an impressive way to cap off his hockey career.
Fleury wrapped up his Hall of Fame NHL career second all-time in wins (575). He posted a .899 save percentage in his final season with Minnesota.
Canada opens the tournament against Slovenia on May 10th in Stockholm.
