Crosby just 18, but has poise of veteran
PITTSBURGH – Make no mistake, Sidney Crosby’s singular skills are what made him the first overall pick of the Penguins in the July NHL draft. But those closest to the Penguins are finding his off-ice comportment just as impressive. Bob Grove, announcer for the Penguins Radio Network, has covered the Pens in one capacity or another since 1981. I still recall sharing a newsroom with him one night in 1998 when I took a phone call. Turned out, the voice on the other end was Ron Francis, who had just signed earlier that day with the Carolina Panthers, officially ending his Penguins career. Francis was calling Grove to see if he needed any quotes or comments before he left for Carolina, an act that forever cemented my professional respect for both individuals.
An eye-witness to Penguins history since the pre-Lemieux days, Grove has been nothing short of impressed with how Crosby has not just survived, but thrived, in the national spotlight since coming to Pittsburgh. Much has been made of how the 18-year-old didn’t wilt for a second on draft day, enduring hours of incessant interviews, patiently answering redundant questions until the last camera light went dark.
However, Grove cited an almost imperceptible gesture from Crosby a few weeks ago as a more telling example of the youngster’s demeanor. During training camp, the team held a series of autograph sessions to raise money for victims of Hurricane Katrina. However, Crosby politely informed the team, as well as hungry autograph seekers, that he would not sign his name on any Sidney Crosby jerseys. Why? Because he hadn’t officially made the team yet.
“It boggles your mind,” Grove said. “You know, and I know, and everyone knows, he was going to make the team. But that’s just his attitude.”
Since he’s arrived, folks have been waiting, pretty much in vain, for Crosby to act like the 18-year-old he is, either on or off the ice.
The moment finally came at 9:13 p.m. Saturday night.
Let the record show that, seconds after scooting a loose puck past a prone Hannu Toivonen for his first NHL goal, Crosby glided backwards, exuberantly slammed his shoulders against the curved glass to the right of the goal, and issued the following two-word-statement, easily lip-read through his visor:
“Yeah!!!!. Whoooohooooo!!!!”
Ah, there’s the teenager.
“I tried to enjoy it … you only do it once,” said Crosby, who has tallied five points through his first three games. “It’s something you dream about, scoring in the NHL. There’s a lot of emotion that comes out of that.”
The funny thing is, his enthusiasm may have taken a backseat to the reactions from the bench, his 40-year-old mentor slash landlord included.
“Everybody was pretty happy when he got the rebound,” said Mario Lemieux. “The guys were waiting for that. We know how hard he’s been working to make sure he’s ready to play in the NHL.”
When teased that the bench seemed happier than Crosby, Lemieux smiled and offered in defense, “I think he was pretty happy.”
“I’m sure he’ll never forget it,” said coach Ed Olczyk. “You never forget your first one, that’s for sure.”
But the goal wasn’t the only artifact Crosby left for the 17,132 fans that packed Mellon Arena Saturday night. At the beginning of the second period, Crosby hit Brooks Orpik in stride with a pass just in front of the net that Orpik buried to put Pittsburgh up, 4-2. It was Crosby’s second assist of the evening. He also set up a Ric Jackman goal late in the first period.
“Those two passes he made were as good as it gets,” Olczyk said.
Which is what Crosby has been for the Pens so far – on and off the ice.