Sidney Crosby

Sidney Crosby, born on August 7, 1987, is a Canadian hockey player who plays center for the Pittsburgh Penguins in the NHL. He made his NHL debut on October 5, 2005, and has since won three Stanley Cups with the Penguins (2009, 2016, and 2017). Many consider him one of the greatest hockey players of all time.

Sidney Crosby: Early Life

Sidney Patrick Crosby was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, to parents Troy and Trina Crosby. He has a younger sister, Taylor Crosby, who also played hockey.

Troy Crosby was a goaltender, and Sidney began playing hockey on his own at the age of two in his family's basement. He learned to skate at three and quickly showed exceptional talent, leading to his first newspaper interview at just seven years old.

At 14, Crosby played triple-A hockey with the Dartmouth Subways, scoring an astonishing 217 goals during the regular season and playoffs. Dartmouth finished second in the Air Canada Cup.

In 2003, Crosby was selected first overall by the Rimouski Océanic in the QMJHL. He recorded eight points in his first exhibition game, earning the nickname “Darryl” in reference to Darryl Sittler’s 10-point NHL game in 1976. Crosby finished his first QMJHL season with 54 goals and 81 assists in 59 games.

Sidney Crosby: NHL Career

Sidney Crosby was drafted first overall in the 2005 NHL Draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins. He made his NHL debut on October 5 against the New Jersey Devils, assisting on the Penguins’ first goal. Crosby finished his rookie season with 39 goals and 63 assists on a Penguins team that finished last in the Eastern Conference. In June 2006, he finished second in Calder Trophy voting for Rookie of the Year, losing to Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals.

In his second season, Crosby became the youngest player ever to win the Art Ross Trophy at just 19 years old, recording 120 points in 79 games.

Crosby won his first Stanley Cup in 2009 as the Penguins defeated the defending champion Detroit Red Wings in seven games. At 21 years, 10 months, and 5 days, he became the youngest captain in NHL history to win the Stanley Cup.

In 2017, Sidney Crosby led the Penguins to their second consecutive Stanley Cup, defeating the Nashville Predators in six games. This made Pittsburgh the first team to win back-to-back Stanley Cups since the Detroit Red Wings in 1997–98.

Over his 20-year NHL career, Crosby has won multiple individual awards, including:

2 Art Ross Trophies
2 Hart Trophies
3 Ted Lindsay Awards
2 Mark Messier Leadership Awards
2 Maurice Richard Trophies
2 Conn Smythe Trophies

Sidney Crosby with Team Canada

Sidney Crosby has also had a highly successful international career representing Team Canada. He won gold at the 2005 World Junior Championship.

At the 2010 Winter Olympics, Crosby scored the game-winning overtime goal against the USA in the gold medal game. In 2014, he scored again in the gold medal game as Canada defeated Sweden, winning back-to-back Olympic gold medals.

He led Canada to gold at the IIHF World Championship in 2015.

During the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, Crosby scored ten points as Canada won gold. In 2025, he captained Canada to victory in the Four Nations Face-Off tournament, scoring five points in three games.