Sidney Crosby: Return to the Ice A look into the journey professional hockey's greatest player has taken since suffering a career pausing series of concussions and injuries.
It has become one of the National Hockey League's (NHL) biggest stages. The Winter Classic, a tradition that the league has continued for the past several years. It is a New Year's Day battle between two teams however; this match-up dwells in the history of the sport of hockey. This is a game played outdoors. It is nothing outrageously special or important, it is only a standard regular season game...but represents something much more. For the past several years, the NHL has sold out football and baseball stadiums for all of these winter displays of hockey. It only occurs once a year and is a growing tradition.
It was in Pittsburgh on January 1, 2011, when many tuned in for a rivaled match-up between two eastern conference super-powers. The Washington Capitals would visit Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to play the hosting Penguins. Both teams possessed former draft stars, Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh Penguins) and Alexander Ovechkin (Washington Capitals). The Canadian prodigy and the Russian super-star. Both had quickly become captains in their careers with their teams. Both men now seasoned “veterans,” having played in the league for five years. Many had compared the two year after year. Their rivalry had become something equivalent to Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. The media played a pivotal role in hyping this Winter Classic in particular.
HBO entered the locker rooms one month before the outdoor game at Steeler's Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, PA. Here HBO's 24/7 series shadowed the Penguins and Capitals in a compelling look into the world of professional hockey. It was this show that helped transcend this game into something much greater. For four weeks fans could watch a new one-hour installment on Wednesday night. Each building off the team's prior week results. You would watch the game and then one week later; see it from the bench and the eyes of the players. Suddenly, a new connection to this game was born.
The Saturday of January 1st was one that brought rain in the afternoon in Pittsburgh, PA. The Winter Classic had been set for 12 p.m. however, rain delay would push the game back until 7 p.m. Suddenly, NBC was hosting a prime time outdoor hockey game on a Saturday night. Now, many would be tuning into a hockey game played between two of the leagues most dangerous teams.
Both Captains, Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin, were eager to play each other. Going into this game, both contained the same career point statistics. Records were broken for attendance and viewing of a NHL hockey game at this Winter Classic. However, neither captain would score in the contest. The Capitals would defeat the Penguins 3-1. Crosby would take a blind hit by Capitals Forward David Steckel. Penguin’s fans would forever remember this Steckel hit.
Within days after this game, the Penguins would host the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Penguins would defeat the Lighting 8-1 but, with one exception. Crosby would receive a hit from Lighting Defenseman, Victor Hedman. This hit would take Crosby off the ice and prevent him for returning to the Penguins blowout home victory. Crosby would later be diagnosed with a concussion, an injury too familiar to many hockey players.
Crosby's path of injury would be one that would last through the remainder of the NHL's 2010-2011 regular season and playoffs. Sidney Crosby would remain quiet to the media for the duration of his off-season or summer training period. For many hockey fans positive news regarding Sidney Crosby’s injury were unheard of. Finally, progress would appear on October 13, 2011. Crosby would be cleared for contact under his medical supervisors. This not mean Crosby’s season return however, it would mean a return to full practice with his team.This positive
news would offer temporary relief for many Penguins fans and hockey fans alike.
Crosby was beginning a path closer to a return, one that the league and sport
desired for its star.
Finally the hockey world heard the official return for Sidney Crosby. On November 20, 2011 the Pittsburgh Penguins and Sidney Crosby made an announcement. Crosby would return to the line up for Monday’s (November 21st) match-up against the New York Islander’s. The world would watch for Crosby’s return to the game of hockey.
The nationally televised Monday night game would bring great TV ratings and an adrenaline high for Sidney Crosby. Crosby would contribute four points into the night’s game. Fans cheered every moment he took the ice. Fans also would wave identical posters that read, “Welcome back Sid.” The four points would be two goals and two assists. The team’s return of their leader and energy would lead them to a commanding 5-0 shutout against the Islander’s. Crosby was back and the hockey world would return to peace.
This would mark the first return for Sidney Crosby. Concussions however, aren’t forgiving. Crosby would remain in the line-up until late December of 2011 where he would aggravate concussion-like symptoms related to a neck injury. Crosby would remain out of hockey healthiness until undergoing a similar clearing as in the previous October. He would later be cleared again for practice and undergo similar steps toward game preparedness. Finally Crosby would make a second return to the game in March. On Thursday, March 15, 2012, Crosby would once again return to the hockey world. This match-up would take place against the New York Ranger’s. After this game against the Ranger’s, Crosby would remain in the line-up for the remainder of the season.
Despite injury and delays on his return to the sport that he loved, Crosby would finally remain in the line-up longer than one month. Crosby would play only 22 games of the 2011-2012 regular season. He would record 8 goals and 29 assists. He would put up 37 points in only 1/4th of the season’s total games. Speculation and prediction can place Crosby at reaching at least 130 points in the 82 game regular season. This is a stat likely possible if injury had halted his progress.
The Playoff-Future looks bright for the Penguins, as they will likely be favorite to win the Stanley Cup if all of their talented stars remain healthy. Sidney Crosby will continue to shine as long as he can avoid Post-Concussion symptoms. Concussions are powerful injury that recently harmed one of the NHL’s most beloved stars. Despite injury efforts to slow him down, Crosby is still fighting for his team and the sport that he loves.
Who Suffered from a Concussion in Hockey?
Kieth Primeau #25 would suffer from at-least four concussions until retiring.