Sidney Crosby was born August 7, 1987 in Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia. The first round, first overall selection of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Crosby was given the task of saving the Pittsburgh Penguins franchise after the team won the draft lottery following the 2004-05 lockout.
In his first season Crosby tallied 102 points with 39 goals, including 16 on the power play, along with 63 assists in 81 games, while becoming the youngest player to ever hit the 100-point mark as an 18-year-old, breaking Dale Hawerchuk’s record which had stood for 23 years. He also became the first rookie to earn 100 penalty minutes and 100 points in the same season, and was often accused by opposing players and coaches of taking dives and complaining to officials.
On May 31, 2007 Crosby was named Pittsburgh’s team captain, making him (at 19 years, 9 months, and 24 days) the youngest team captain in NHL history. At the conclusion of that season Crosby completed a rare off-season hat trick, winning the Art Ross Trophy, the Hart Memorial Trophy, and becoming the youngest player in NHL history to win the Lester B. Pearson Award.
