Sidney Crosby makes unbelievable move in wake of 2018 WJC investigation and impact on hockey culture

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby arrived on Friday for the All-Star weekend festivities, after missing out on last night’s Players Draft. He had been away in Montana, skating at the Big Sky ice rink.

The superstar forward met with reporters in a press conference that many media members attended, asking questions on the current weekend and the game and the league’s announcement of the return of NHL participation at the 2026 and 2030 Winter Olympics.

Then, one (unnamed) reporter asked Crosby if there’s a problem with Canada’s 2018 world junior hockey team. As you know from recent reports, the sexual assault case of five players from Canada’s 2018 world junior hockey team is set to be before a London, Ont., court on Monday. Dillon Dube, Cal Foote, Alex Formenton, Carter Hart and Michael McLeod are each charged with one count of sexual assault.

Crosby could have used the classic answer that he does not wish to comment during the ongoing investigation, however, he proved to everyone (who didn’t already known) that he is a better person, who wishes to see positive changes in hockey culture. He informed the reporter that he didn’t think this huge scrum of “15-second soundbites” was a good venue for such a topic, but he’d be happy to talk privately with the reporter after.

After the press conference, he did meet up with the reporter. As Mark Lazerus points out: “Might not seem like much, but a nuanced 1-on-1 conversation with a player of Crosby’s stature is not a thing that happens at All-Star games, especially for unfamiliar reporters. It’s a nice, mature gesture by Crosby.”

I’m not saying that because Sidney Crosby has something to say about improving hockey culture, especially in the NHL, means that it will change overnight. But the fact that a prominent hockey star, basically the face of the league, is giving his input on the matter and wants to take the time to help is truly inspiring and encouraging.

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