Former coach not surprised
CHRIS KALLAN
The Daily News

As Pittsburgh Penguins centre Sidney Crosby of Cole Harbour walked off
with a major NHL award under each arm, former Dartmouth Subways hockey
coach Brad Crossley expected what many others also expected.

"Sidney's carried just not his team, but the whole NHL in a new
direction, so him winning doesn't surprise me one bit," Crossley said.
"He did everything but win the Stanley Cup this year, and that's
probably in his future. It's a fabulous honour for him and it was nice
to see the real emotion his family showed as well."

The 19-year-old Crosby scored 36 goals and amassed 120 points in just
79 games to win both the Hart Trophy (most valuable player) and Lester
B. Pearson Award (most outstanding player) at last night's awards
ceremony in Toronto. Crosby is the first Nova Scotian to win either
award. Both his parents, Troy and Trina, and his 10-year-old sister,
Taylor, were in the crowd.

Crosby, who led the Penguins into the second round of this year's NHL
playoffs, played for Crossley's Subways as a 13-year-old during the
2001-02 campaign when he racked up 95 goals and 193 points in 74
games. The Subways captured the Atlantic title that year and finished
runner-up at the Air Canada Cup; Crosby was top scorer and tournament MVP.

"He was leading as a man would do even then," Crossley said.
"Sometimes you just sit back and watch and admire him. He's always
elevated his play to another level when faced against challenges that
other people think are insurmountable. He's a proven leader and a
proven winner."