Crosby, Sidney (1987-…), is a star Canadian player in the National Hockey League (NHL). Crosby became one of the most celebrated players ever to enter the NHL, though he was only 18 years old at the time. His early popularity came from his brilliant play as an amateur and in international competition.
The Pittsburgh Penguins made Crosby, a center, the first selection in the 2005 NHL draft. During his first season, Crosby finished sixth in NHL scoring with 102 points on 39 goals and 63 assists. He was the youngest player to score 100 points in a season in the history of the NHL. Crosby led the NHL in scoring in 2006-2007 with 120 points on 36 goals and 84 assists. He led the NHL again in 2013-2014 with 104 points on 36 goals and 68 assists. Crosby scored 51 goals in the 2009-2010 regular season. The 51 goals tied him for first place with Steven Stamkos of the Tampa Bay Lightning and earned him a share of the Maurice Richard Trophy as the league’s leading goal scorer. Crosby was the sole winner of the trophy for the 2016-2017 season when he led the league in goals scored with 44. In 2007, Crosby became the youngest player in NHL history to score 200 career points. Crosby won the Hart Memorial Trophy as the player most valuable to his team for the 2006-2007 and 2013-2014 seasons. Crosby was voted the Ted Lindsay Award as the players’ choice for the NHL’s most outstanding player for the 2006-2007, 2012-2013, and 2013-2014 seasons. He missed most of the 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 seasons, suffering from post- concussion syndrome.
Crosby helped Pittsburgh win the Stanley Cup in 2009, 2016, and 2017. He won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the Most Valuable Player of both the 2016 and 2017 playoffs. He became the third player in NHL history to win the trophy for back-to-back playoff series, along with Bernie Parent and Mario Lemieux.
Sidney Patrick Crosby was born on Aug. 7, 1987, in Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, near Dartmouth. At the age of 14, he led his Midget AAA team, the Dartmouth Subways, to the national championship game. Crosby played the 2002-2003 season for Shattuck-St. Mary’s high school in Minnesota, leading the team to the U.S. national championship. He joined the Rimouski Oceanic of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League in 2003-2004. He led the league in scoring that year. He was named the league’s Player of the Year and Top Rookie. .
In 2004, Crosby became only the fifth 16-year-old to represent Canada in the World Junior Hockey Championship tournament. He helped lead the Canadian national team to the tournament championship in 2005.
At the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, Canada, the Canadian national team defeated the United States team in overtime, 3-2, to win the gold medal in men’s hockey. Crosby scored the winning goal for the Canadian team.
