Sidney Crosby’s Top 30 Memories On His 30th Birthday

30. Crosby’s Homer

The Pittsburgh Penguins took a visit to PNC Park, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ field, for some batting practice in 2010. As if Crosby’s Stanley Cup and incredible stats hadn’t proved he could do it all already, the captain grabbed a home run after not so many swings. So- not only can Crosby snipe a puck, but he can send a ball flying too.

29. “Welcome to Horton’s”

Let’s not forget, not too long ago, when Crosby and the Avs’ Nate MacKinnon took on the Tim Horton’s drive-thru for the first time. Crosby eagerly jumped behind the scenes to work the window for Tim Hortons and, despite he and MacKinnon forgetting a few orders, he had a blast.

28. Dryer Hockey on The Tonight Show

Don’t forget the time the recently drafted Crosby guest starred on The Tonight Show where he practiced his shooting on a clothes dryer– just like old times.

27. Post Lockout Lottery Odds

After the 2005 lockout, the NHL coined a new method to find the draft order which was determined by the last few years success. Each team had a minimum of one ball to a maximum of three balls to be drawn for their odds. The Penguins, one of a few teams with three odds, lucked out in a sweepstakes for Sidney Crosby that would change their franchise forever.

26. The 100 Point Rookie

Crosby made a huge splash in his rookie season and notches 102 points (39 G, 63 A) in his first NHL season. Don’t forget- the future captain also notched 110 PIM in his first season but, don’t worry, it wasn’t for anything major.

25. TIME’s Most Influential in 2007

In 2007, at the young age of 19, TIME magazine named the young star one of their 100 most influential people. If Crosby notched that title back then- imagine how influential he is now.

24. The Hat Trick Battle

Crosby and Ovechkin entered the NHL as rookies together and have always been put head-to-head against one another. The competition has hockey fans from all over the league and the rivalry’s best moment was a battle of hat tricks. Both Crosby and Ovechkin notched a hat trick in their head-to-head battle on May 4, 2009, Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semi Finals. The Capitals won the game, but the Pens won the series.

23. Hart From the Start

Crosby kicked off his career with an early Hart Trophy. The captain received the Hart Trophy, and MVP title, in his second year in the NHL, the same year he put up his career-high 120 points. Crosby would win the Hart Trophy a second time following the 2013-14 season.

22. A Decorated Sophomore Season

The Hart Trophy isn’t the only trophy the 19-year-old took home in his second year in the NHL. Crosby posted 120 points (36 G, 84 A) and was rewarded as so. That year, Crosby became the youngest player to win the Art Ross and lead the league in points.He also took home the Pearson (now Ted Lindsay) Trophy for his outstanding performance.

21. The Golden Goal

How could anyone forget the golden goal? Canadians haven’t. In the 2010 Winter Olympics, Crosby scored the overtime winner to top the United States and give Canada their first goal medal win on home ice. The golden goal was heard around the world and has become one of Crosby’s, and Canada’s, prized memories.

20.  The Triple Gold Club

Crosby is a member of an exclusive club of hockey players. The criteria? Win a Stanley Cup, a World Championship gold medal and an Olympic gold medal.

19.  The Then-Youngest Captain

Crosby, in 2007, became the youngest full-time captain in the NHL at 19 years and 297 days old. Crosby would have become the Penguins’ captain even earlier but felt, prior to that, that he wasn’t ready to take on the role. Crosby has since been replaced as the youngest captain in NHL’s history.

18.  The 100-200-300

On October 18, 2008, Crosby notched his 100th goal and his 200th assist to reach 300 points in one game. He notched a goal and three assists in the Penguins’ 3-1 victory over the Maple Leafs.

17.  Youngest Records

Crosby has notched a lot of records in his career, especially for being the youngest player to notch big victories. In his career, he has been the youngest player to notch 100 points in one season, score 200 career points (20), win the Art Ross and Lindsay Trophies (19), be named to the nHL’s first All-Star Team (19), tall two consecutive 100-point seasons (20) and win the Stanley Cup as a captain since 1895 (21).

16. The First Stanley Cup

Crosby won his first Stanley Cup, the Penguins’ third as a franchise, in 2009. The Penguins went to seven games with the Detroit Red Wings but Max Talbot’s two goals gave the Pens the win and the Cup.

15. The Birthday Stanley Cup Parade

Crosby celebreated his 22nd birthday with his first Stanley Cup parade in Cole Harbour. A crowd of 75,000 celebrated the victory and the captains birthday on August 7, 2009.

14. The Playoff Game Winner

Crosby has made a career of big goals and important moments. When it comes to the playoffs, Crosby is a game-winner. The captain has notched nine playoff game-winners in his career but scored the first of many just three nights after his playoff debut on April 14, 2007.

13.  The First Goal

Crosby notched his first goal in his first home game on October 8, 2005 against the Boston Bruins. The first goal was a power play goal in the second period that gave the Pens a two-goal lead, though they would leater lose the game in OT.

12.  Add an Emmy to the Collection

in 2016, Crosby added another trophy to his collection when he received an Emmy from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Mid-Atlantic chapter for his role in Pens Tv’s “There’s no Place Like Home With Sidney Crosby.”

11.  The First Winter Classic Win

The Penguins faced the Buffalo Sabres in the 2008 Winter Classic that resulted in a tie that provoked a shootout. Of course, it was none other than Crosby who scored a winning shootout goal to take the Winter Classic victory.

10.  The Order of Nova Scotia

As if the Emmy award  and TIME nomination hadn’t shown a taste of Crosby’s success off the ice, the captain was awarded as a member of the Order of Nova Scotia in 2009. Crosby received a medallion in his joining the Order and was cited as a person who makes Nova Scotia proud to be a province.

9. The Comeback Kid

Everyone knows that Crosby has had five concussions throughout his career. Every time the word concussion is associated with Crosby’s name fans get nervous, rightfully so. Despite concussions that have sidelined the player, Crosby has always returned and hasn’t let the injuries hold him back.

8.  The Second Stanley Cup

Crosby notched his first Stanley Cup win pretty early in his career but he wasn’t done winning yet. The Penguins took the Cup back to Pittsburgh again in 2016 after defeating the San Jose Sharks, thus winning their second Cup in Crosby’s era.

7. The Back-to-Back Victories

One Stanley Cup under Crosby’s leadership? Incredibe. Two? Unbelievable. But, two Stanley Cup victories and then a third in 2017 making the Penguins back-to-back winners? Unfathomable. Crosby led the Penguins to their third Stanley Cup under his leadership again this year for back-to-back victories and the fifth Cup in Penguins’ history.

6.  A Highly Decorated Active NHL-er

Crosby has notched incredible feats so far in his career and is one of the most decorated active players. Crosby has three Stanley Cups, four EC Championships, two Conn Smythes, two Art Ross trophies, two Rocket Richard trophies, three Ted Lindsay awards, two Hart trophies, a World Junior gold medal, a World Cup of Hockey gold medal and two Olympic gold medals.

5. 1,000 Points

Crosby notched his 1,000th point on Feb 16, 2017 when he grabbed an assist on Chris Kunitz’s goal against the Winnipeg Jets. This would make Crosby the 11th youngest player to reach 1,000 points. He also notched the 1,000 points in 757 games becoming the fastest active player to reach the feat and the 12th fastest in history.

4.  Humble to the Core

The only thing Crosby does better than play hockey is to give back to his fans and community. Crosby comes from humble beginnings and has kept this quality as he grows more successful. The captain is always signing autographs and giving back to his fans and, even this post-season, has brought the Stanley Cup to children’s hospitals and a veteran nursing home. Crosby is constantly giving back to his community, fans and all those who helped him get to where he is now.

3. The NHL 100

As part of the NHL’s Centennial Celebration, the NHL created a list of the league’s greatest 100 players. When it came to some active players, it isn’t a shock to see the name Sidney Crosby on the list. Crosby’s expertise and incredible feats landed him on the list of the NHL’s All-Time Greats.

2. 87, the Continuing Legend

Crosby has led an incredible career thus far with outstanding feats, new records and victories that will make him an important player in NHL history forever. Crosby will always be one of the NHL’s best and his number has contributed to the legend. The number 87 has followed Crosby throughout his career. Crosby not only wears the number 87 for the Penguins but was born on 8/7/87 and has an average salary cap hit of $8.7.

Next: Sidney Crosby is a Legend at 30

1. The Best is Yet to Come

Crosby’s career has been incredible thus far. Though now the captain is 30-years-old, he is far from being finished. Crosby has expressed his desire to get another Stanley Cup with the Penguins and has even teased at a ‘three-peat.’ Crosby posted 89 points this season, brought home another Stanley Cup, a Conn Smythe trophy and the Rocket Richard trophy. Crosby has already achieved so much and he isn’t done yet.

Happy birthday, captain.