USA Junior Hockey Magazine

Crosby’s Charisma Stretches far beyond ice

by chuck grillo

There haven’t been many teenagers to enter the NHL with as much hype as Sidney Crosby, and with good reason.

I mentioned finding a “real person” in the first column, and as good as Sidney is on the ice, he’s equally as dynamic off it.  He is a very special person who happens to be a very special player.

We first saw Sidney at Shattuck-St. Mary’s and then met him on a plane where we had a conversation as we sat in our aisle seats.  On parting, he said, “If you’re ever in the rink to see me play, stop down and visit after the game.”

This was at age 15, so it shows that he knew his life was a business at a very young age.

Every young player's life becomes a business sooner or later.  It happens the first time they do something out of the ordinary.  They show you a glimpse of excellence and then they have to maintain a level of consistency while proving their assets over and over again.

Sidney's play to date has been well documented.  Regardless of talent, players need time to adjust to every level as they move on and up in the game.  It would be very easy to label Sidney a “franchise player.”  We got the feeling he wants to earn that label and we agree with him.

His first goal is to make the team.  The label “franchise player” falls in line with the words “loyalty” and “respect.”  They are revered words that are earned over time with your performance on the ice, your conduct, the examples you set, your attitude and work ethic on and off the ice. 

Every player on the team should have the right and desire to earn the label of “franchise player” over time.  Some just have a head start.

The Penguins have much to look forward to in the future.  They have a talented stable of young players to complement those with notoriety coming in and the mentors in place to help them maximize their potential.

This is a group capable of entertaining a crowd and exciting them with their honest play.  Players with a passion for the game will do anything to be a part of this group.  This raises the bar and is encouraging for players who train and leave nothing to chance.  Sidney is one of them.

Sidney is in good hands.  Greg Malone is the chief scout with 11 years of NHL experience as a player.  He is a very humble and special guy with the interests of everyone else coming before his own.

Add in the fact that Mario Lemieux has personally saved the franchise numerous times while also hosting one of the biggest charitable golf tournaments in the country.  He did all this while battling cancer.

General manager Craig Patrick has worked through tight budgets to hold the franchise together with his vision, patience and smarts.  Craig has a caring level second to none and a sincere passion for the game.

The Penguins have three men who have paid a special price to warrant the top pick in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, as well as the opportunity to be added to Sidney’s long list of mentors that started with his immediate family.

An amateur scout for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Chuck Grillo also owns and operates the highly-regarded Minnesota Hockey Camps with his wife, Clairene, and  sons, Dino (Indiana Ice) and Roby (San Jose Sharks).  For more information on the camps, visit www.mnhockeycamps.com or e-mail chuck@mnhockeycamps.com