Sidney Crosby
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Sidney Patrick Crosby (born August 7, 1987, in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada) is a professional ice hockey player for the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins.
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Playing career
Crosby is believed by many to have innate talent comparable to that of Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux and other NHL greats, an assessment that has led to the nickname "The Next One." Sidney also has Darryl87 on both of his gloves. This is here because of his nickname Darryl after Darryl Sittler.
Crosby was drafted first overall in the QMJHL draft on June 9, 2003 by the Rimouski Océanic. He won the scoring title and set a new scoring record for 16-year-olds in his rookie season in the QMJHL. He achieved 54 goals and 81 assists.
The comparisons between Crosby and Gretzky have raised questions as to whether or not he truly will be "The Next One." He was criticized, most notably by famed hockey analyst Don Cherry, for being a "Hot Dog" after scoring a lacrosse-style goal in which he scooped the puck onto his stick and carried it flat on his stick before placing it in the net, during a 7-1 blowout win against a beaten Quebec Remparts.
After he won the U-20 World Junior Championships with the Canadian U-20 team in North Dakota, his jersey was stolen in an airport. Crosby had taken criticism for his emotional behavior, but it is understood amongst most that the jersey from a high calibre event such as the World Junior Hockey Championship, has sentimental value, and is a part of his hockey history. The jersey was eventually recovered and returned to Crosby. An employee at a Quebec airport was charged with theft.
On July 22, 2005 the NHL, upon ratification of its new CBA, held its first league-wide draft lottery in its history, which was won by the Pittsburgh Penguins. On July 30, the Penguins selected Crosby in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft with the first overall pick. It gave Crosby the opportunity to play alongside the man to whom he has often been compared, Mario Lemieux.
Crosby played his first professional NHL game on October 5, 2005, against the New Jersey Devils, and registered an assist on the team's first goal of the season, scored by Mark Recchi. Crosby's first NHL goal came on October 8, 2005 against goaltender Hannu Toivonen of the Boston Bruins and was assisted by linemates Mark Recchi and Zigmund Palffy. On November 4, 2005, Sidney recorded his first 2-goal game against the New York Islanders in a 5-1 win. Sidney also put up an assist. This performance came after he was named the NHL's October Rookie of the Month.
On December 16, 2005, Crosby was named an alternate captain, replacing John LeClair, for the Penguins by new coach Michel Therrien. However, Crosby recently has come under fire for his on-ice behavior; namely, what many deem "whining." Crosby has often complained to the refs about uncalled penalties, and has hurt his team by doing so, as he accumulated 74 PIMs in his first 50 NHL games. Many consider this as simply a sign of youth and frustration of being on a team with a losing record, something new to the phenom.
According to Elias Sports Bureau, Crosby became the youngest player in NHL history to score 90 points with a four point effort against the Florida Panthers on April 7, 2006. Crosby accomplished the feat at 18 years, 243 days old, passing Dale Hawerchuk, who was 18 years, 343 days old when he reached 90 points for the Winnipeg Jets in 1981-82. His puck is also in the Hockey Hall of Fame.
On April 13, 2006, Crosby broke Mario Lemieux's Pittsburgh Penguins rookie assist record, with one goal and three assists in a 5-3 win over the New York Rangers. Lemieux recorded 57 assists in his rookie year. Crosby finished with 63 assists in his first season, a new Penguins rookie record.
On April 17, 2006, Crosby scored his 100th point at the last home game of the season against the New York Islanders. Crosby is the youngest player in the history of the NHL to score 100 points in a single season. In addition, Crosby is the seventh rookie ever to score 100 or more points in a season. Crosby also is the first NHL rookie to record 100 points and 100 penalty minutes in a season. He also broke Mario Lemieux's 1984-85 team record for most points in a season by a rookie. Lemieux recorded 100 points; Crosby passed him with 102.
Quick facts
- Nicknames: The Next One, Sid the Kid (given by sportscaster Jim Hughson), Darryl (named after Hall of Famer Darryl Sittler), The Gift, Sir Sidney, Bing (given by former Penguins coach Eddie Olczyk), The Franchise, Baby Legs, Crosbaby (derogatory)
- Current Team: Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL)
- Salary: $850 000 (highest ammount possible for a rookie)
- Previous Team: Rimouski Océanic (QMJHL)
- Hometown: Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia
- Place of Birth: Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
- Country: Canada
- DOB: August 7, 1987
- Height: 5-foot-11 (1.80 m)
- Weight: 193 pounds (87.5 kg)
- Shoots: Left
- Position: Center
- Jersey Number: 87
- Endorsements: Reebok, Gatorade, Telus
- Father: Troy Crosby
- Mother: Trina Crosby
- Sister: Taylor Crosby
- Agent: Pat Brisson (IMG)
Trivia
- At age 2 1/2 he would play in the basement of his home in Nova Scotia, Canada, which his father had painted white and added red and blue lines to replicate a skating rink.
- Started skating on ice at age 3.
- At age 7, Sidney gave his first newspaper interview and was already on the radar of the sports press.
- At age 14, he was featured on CBC's show "Hockey Day in Canada".
- Wayne Gretzky told a reporter from "The Arizona Republic", in answer to a question if a player may some day break some of his records: "Yes, Sidney Crosby. He's the best player I've seen since Mario Lemieux." Crosby was 15 at the time.
- In 2003, Sidney was the only player under 18 invited to join the Canadian Junior Hockey Team. On December 28, 2003, he scored his first goal of the world junior hockey championship in a 7-2 win over Switzerland, becoming the youngest player ever to score for the team at age 16 years, 4 months, 24 days. The puck from Sidney's record making goal is in the Hockey Hall of Fame.
- While having great success in hockey, Crosby still managed to maintain an 85% average as a Grade 11 student.
- He became so famous at home, he had to spent his sophomore year in 2002-03 at Shattuck-St. Mary's prep school in Minnesota, where he scored 72 goals in 57 games.
- Sidney's father, Troy Crosby, was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in the 1984 NHL Entry Draft.
- Selected first overall in the midget draft by the Rimouski Océanic of the Québec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) in 2003, and first overall in the 2005 NHL draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins.
- ESPN's live coverage of 2005 NHL draft lottery was simply called, The Sidney Crosby Sweepstakes.
- Canadian TV sports network TSN has taken to calling his entry into pro hockey The Crosby Show.
- In time for his rookie season, a Canadian publisher issued a biography, Sidney Crosby: Taking the Game by Storm.
- Appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on August 4, 2005, five days after being drafted by the Penguins.
- Arrived in Pittsburgh for the first time on August 10, 2005.
- Lived with Mario Lemieux's family during his rookie year in Pittsburgh.
- Used his mother's clothes dryer as a goal when he played in the basement of their home. The dryer is now dented beyond recognition without a button left on it.
- His number is 87 due to his birthday being August 7, 1987 (8/7--87).
- His superstitions include threading his equipment on the right-hand side first, and after his stick is taped no one is allowed to touch it.
- Fan of Boston Red Sox (baseball), Pittsburgh Steelers (football), and Detroit Pistons (basketball).
- Was a Montreal Canadiens fan as a child.
Jerseys issues
Crosby's Team Canada jersey from the gold-medal game at the World Junior Hockey Championship was stolen by an Air Canada baggage handler in January 2005. It was recovered about a week later and was auctioned off for $22,100 for youth hockey charities and south Asian tsunami relief.
For the second time in less than a year, one of Crosby's game-worn sweaters went missing. This time, it was the jersey he wore in his first NHL game against the New Jersey Devils. It was reportedly stolen from the luggage of Sidney’s father during a flight from Pittsburgh to Buffalo. The jersey was later found at the Pittsburgh International Airport between a piece of equipment and a stairwell.
The jersey Crosby wore in his third NHL game topped the bidding of an online jersey auction for Hurricane Katrina relief at $21,010. The second-highest jersey bid came down to little under $8,000.
Criticism
In contrast to his fantastic on-ice skills, Crosby has been perceived by some critics as a player who takes dives and complains too much. This may have started in Philadelphia, when before and after a game between the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins, Flyers coach Ken Hitchcock insinuated that Crosby was diving during the game. During the game, Flyers star Peter Forsberg also made a "dive" motion with his hands.[1]
In the waning months of the 2005-2006 NHL season, controversy seemed to have swirled around Crosby. In March, he played down the notion that he was a "marked man" in the NHL after being involved in a knee-on-knee hit with Ottawa Senators defenseman Andrej Meszaros. [2]
In April, during a game against the New Jersey Devils, Crosby received an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after having gotten a penalty moments earlier for hooking after having his sticked tossed away. Crosby commented on the situation in light of his being perceived as a complainer, saying, "It's known if I say something, I'm gonna get [criticized]."
NHL rookie season (2005-06)
- Youngest player in NHL history to score 100 points
- Ranks second in NHL history in points scored before his 19th birthday (second to Dale Hawerchuk, 103 points for Winnipeg in 1981-82)
- Ranks second in NHL history in points scored by players who broke into the NHL in the year they were drafted (second to Hawerchuk, 103)
- Set a Pittsburgh Penguins rookie scoring record with 102 points, breaking Mario Lemieux’s mark of 100 (1984-85)
- Set a Pittsburgh Penguins rookie record for assists with 63, breaking Lemieux’s mark of 57
- Became the seventh rookie in NHL history to score 100 points
- Became the first rookie in NHL history to compile 100 points and 100 penalty minutes
- Finished sixth in the NHL scoring race
- Finished seventh in the NHL in assists
- Ranked third among Canadian NHL players in scoring (trailing only Joe Thornton and Dany Heatley)
Awards
- Rookie of the Month - October 2005
- Rookie of the Year - 2004
- Player of the Year - 2004, 2005
- Leading Scorer - 2004, 2005
- Canada Post Cup (three stars) - 2004, 2005
- Top Pro Prospect - 2005
- Memorial Cup All-Star Team - 2005
- Ed Chynoweth Award (Memorial Cup Leading Scorer) - 2005
- RDS/JVC Trophy (rookie of the year) - 2004
- QMJHL All-Rookie Team - 2004
- QMJHL First All-Star Team - 2004, 2005
- Michel Briere Trophy (most valuable player) - 2004, 2005
- Jean Béliveau Trophy (league leading scorer) - 2004, 2005
- Mike Bossy Trophy (best professional prospect) - 2005
- Paul Dumont Trophy (Personality of the Year) - 2004, 2005
- Guy Lafleur Trophy (Playoff MVP) - 2005
- Offensive Player of the Year - 2004, 2005
Career statistics
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2001-02 | Dartmouth Subways | MAAA | 74 | 95 | 98 | 193 | 114 | 7 | 11 | 13 | 24 | 0 | ||
| 2002-03 | Shattuck St. Mary's | USHS | 57 | 72 | 90 | 162 | 104 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 2003-04 | Rimouski Océanic | QMJHL | 59 | 54 | 81 | 135 | 74 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 16 | 10 | ||
| 2004-05 | Rimouski Océanic | QMJHL | 62 | 66 | 102 | 168 | 84 | 13 | 14 | 17 | 31 | 16 | ||
| 2005-06 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 81 | 39 | 63 | 102 | 110 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| NHL Totals | 81 | 39 | 63 | 102 | 110 | |||||||||
Statistics as of 18 April 2006
International play
Played for Canada in:
- 2004 Under-20 World Junior Championships (silver medal)
- 2005 Under-20 World Junior Championships (gold medal)
International statistics
| Year | Team | Event | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Canada | WJC | 6 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 4 |
| 2005 | Canada | WJC | 7 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 4 |