Sidney Crosby entered the NHL with immense pressure as "The Next One" and somehow exceeded every expectation. He revitalized the Pittsburgh Penguins and captained Canada to international glory. Furthermore, his intense work ethic and superstitious nature make him one of the most unique personalities in sports. Consequently, "Sid the Kid" stands as a defining athlete of his generation. Explore these fascinating details about the hockey icon.
Sidney Crosby
Sidney Crosby was born on August 7, 1987. Therefore, his birthdate of 8/7/87 directly inspired his famous jersey number 87.
He famously destroyed his family’s clothes dryer with hockey pucks. Specifically, he practiced his shooting accuracy in the basement for hours, leaving the appliance covered in dents and black marks.
He lived in Mario Lemieux’s guest house for his first five NHL seasons. Instead of buying a mansion immediately, he chose to learn from his mentor and stay in a family environment.
Sidney Crosby scored the “Golden Goal” at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. Dramatically, he fired the puck past Ryan Miller in overtime to win the gold medal for Canada on home soil.
He acts incredibly superstitious about his equipment. For instance, he has used the same protective cup since high school and refuses to let anyone else touch his sticks.
The Penguins captain earns an annual salary of exactly $8.7 million. Uniquely, he insisted on this specific number to match his jersey and birthdate, even though he could demand much more money.
He became the youngest captain in NHL history to win the Stanley Cup. Remarkably, he hoisted the trophy at just 21 years old after defeating the Detroit Red Wings in 2009.
He excels at baseball and once hit a home run at PNC Park. During batting practice with the Pittsburgh Pirates, he shocked the professional players by smashing a ball over the outfield wall.
Sidney Crosby joined the exclusive “Triple Gold Club” in 2015. Thus, he secured his place in history by winning an Olympic Gold, a World Championship Gold, and the Stanley Cup.
He refuses to cut his hair during the playoffs. Consequently, he grows a patchy, unkempt beard every spring because he believes it brings the team good luck.
His younger sister, Taylor Crosby, also plays goaltender. She followed in her brother’s athletic footsteps and played college hockey for St. Cloud State University.
He rarely speaks trash to opponents on the ice. Instead, he prefers to let his play do the talking, which often frustrates rivals who try to bait him into a fight.
The Rimouski Océanic retired his jersey number across the entire league. fittingly, no player in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League will ever wear number 87 again.
He avoided touching the Prince of Wales Trophy in 2008 but touched it in 2009. After losing the first time, he changed his superstition and decided to pick up the conference trophy the next time he won it.
Finally, he creates a specific handshake for every single teammate. He memorizes intricate routines with each player to build chemistry before they step onto the ice.
