Sidney Crosby, Ice Hockey

When and where did you begin this sport?

At the age of two and a half he started playing in the family basement which his father had painted white with red and blue lines to resemble an ice rink. He started skating aged three. (crosby87.com, 31 Nov 2005)

Superstitions / Rituals / Beliefs

He eats the same meal before every game, chicken and pasta, and tries to get to the arena two and a half hours before a game to stretch and tape his sticks. (ca.askmen.com, 07 Jan 2010)

Awards and honours

He was awarded the Hart Trophy, awarded to the Most Valuable Player in the NHL, in 2007. (thehockeynews.com, 07 Jan 2010)

He also won the Art Toss Trophy, for leading scorer, and the Lester B. Person Award for NHLPA Player of the Year in 2007. (thehockeynews.com, 07 Jan 2010)

He was named to the NHL All Star team for the 2006/07 season and was selected to play in the 2008/09 and 2007/08 All Star games but did not play. He did play in the All Star game during the 2006/07 season. (thehockeynews.com, 07 Jan 2010)

At the age of 16 he became the youngest ever Canadian player to score a goal at the World Junior Championships after helping Canada win gold at the 2005 competition. (ESPN, 07 Jan 2010)

General

NHL DRAFT

Drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round, he was the first overall pick of the 2005 NHL entry draft. (Forecaster, 31 Nov 2005)

BASEMENT PRACTISE

As a child he used to practise in the basement of his parents house. He set up a net and would shoot pucks into it, often missing and hitting his mother's clothes dryer. "I don't know how it survived because there were buttons off of it. As long as it kept working," he said, "I didn't get in any trouble. It was all dented up." (USA Today, 15 Dec 2009)