Canadian hockey and Canada will forever hold Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby dear. On Canadian soil, in overtime, with the world watching, Crosby scored probably the biggest goal of his life, and Canada won the 2010 hockey gold medal.
The Golden Goal.
Since then, Crosby has become the standard-bearer for Team Canada. He's won gold at the World Championships, which is a tournament that players of his caliber often bypass. He's led Canada to gold at The World Cup of Hockey, at the Four Nations Face-Off , and before his NHL stardom, he also led Team Canada to gold at the World Junior Championships.
Last February at the Four Nations tournament, even an injured Crosby had five points (1-4-5) in four games. In 2010, Crosby had seven points (4-3-7) in seven games, and he has 26 points in 19 World Championship games.
Crosby has worn more gold than Lil John. And he's earned most of the gold with big goals and the captain's C above his Canadian crest.
Crosby also participated in the press conference, though predictably, his quotes about himself were far less colorful. He's 38 years old now, and he's no longer "Sid the Kid," who scored the 2010 gold medal-winning goal to beat Team USA. In the years since, he's placed an indelible stamp upon Canadian hockey in a way that his fellow all-time greats, including Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux, could not.
"It's hard (to put it in perspective). I'm grateful for the chance to be still competing and the opportunity to do this," said Crosbsy. "You never know. It's a tough sport and it's competitive … but I also know how special the opportunity is and what it means. It's motivating, but it's also a lot of fun."
At the outset of the three-day orientation camp in Calgary for all of Team Canada's Olympic squads, the executives and players participated in a press conference, which in part became singing Crosby's praises … with Sid sitting just feet away.
Florida Panthers forward Sam Reinhart and Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid , a superstar and all-time great in his own right, spoke about their memories of watching Crosby's golden goal against Team USA. Both were 13 at the time.
"It was a special time for all Canadians, especially us as young guys going through that same thing. You know, our family kind of gathered with a bunch of teammates after we played earlier in the day," McDavid said. "So we all got together, watched the game, and had some food, and, you know, it's just so tense. It was so intense, you could feel it–the energy in the building, the nervous energy in the building coming through the TV. And then obviously the elation when Sid scores and Canada wins gold on home ice. It doesn't get any better than that."
Perhaps Bennett's party was a little more fun.
"That was my last year living in Vancouver before moving away to (play in) juniors. So, to be in Vancouver, I was actually at a couple of games. I was at the shootout game winner against Switzerland. So, when (Crosby scored), I was jumping up and down on my couch with a couple of families over at my parents, and there was definitely some rearranging of furniture going on," Reinhart said.
However, the greatest praise came from Hockey Canada Sr. Vice President of Hockey Operations Scott Salmond. With McDavid and the best Canadian players sitting on the dais, Salmond credited Crosby as the country's biggest advantage and the unquestioned leader who has united the locker room.
"If there's any advantage anymore for Canadians or for our Canadian team, there is one, and that is Sidney Crosby . When you look at our biggest competition, I don't think anyone else has that. And it can't be overstated," Salmond said. "I saw it again at the Four Nations. He has this incredible ability to bring people together. And I believe that there's this belief within the team and the players that they don't want to let him down.
"And, I mean, these players have the weight of the nation on their shoulders, but they look at Sidney Crosby and they want to carry on that legacy that he's created. So you can never underestimate it. I think what he brings to Hockey Canada, the way he carries himself, the way he represents Canada, is incredible. And it's a huge advantage for us, no question.".
Crosby remains one of the best players on the planet and an inspiring leader. His Team Canada teammates were children or teenagers as they vicariously lived some of his best moments through the television, and now they have a mission to uphold the standard he has set.
Perhaps if Team Canada does have an advantage over the rambunctious Team USA and the rest of the world, it is indeed all things Sidney Crosby.
The post Canada Praises Crosby as Player & Leader; 'He Has This Incredible Ability' appeared first on Pittsburgh Hockey Now .
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