TORONTO (June 14, 2007) – The National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA) Thursday night announced Sidney Crosby as the recipient of the 2006-07 Lester B. Pearson Award, recognizing the "most outstanding player" during the regular season as voted by members of the NHLPA.

The Prime Minister of Canada, the Right Honourable Stephen Harper, a devoted hockey historian and tremendous fan of the game, presented the Pearson trophy to Crosby at the NHL Awards Show in Toronto, Ontario. The two Lester B. Pearson Award runner-ups, Vincent Lecavalier of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Roberto Luongo of the Vancouver Canucks, were also in attendance.

SIDNEY CROSBY

Crosby, a native of Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, Canada, appeared in 79 games for the Pittsburgh Penguins, securing the NHL's top spot for points (120), power play assists (48) and power play points (61). In only his second season, the 19-year-old has taken the NHL by storm, becoming the youngest player to ever post back-to-back 100 point seasons, and securing the team's first playoff appearance since 2001. At just 19 years of age, Crosby becomes the youngest player to win the Lester B. Pearson Award, surpassing a 21-year-old Wayne Gretzky in 1981-82. Crosby also represents the Penguins' third Pearson recipient (Lemieux, Jagr), which ties them with the New York Rangers (Ratelle, Messier, Jagr) as the only two clubs to have three players win the Pearson in their respective jerseys.

The Lester B. Pearson Award, named after the former Prime Minister of Canada, has been voted on by the players since the 1970-71 season when Phil Esposito was the inaugural recipient. When Mark Messier reflected upon his career and was asked what he was most proud of, he said: "The Lester B. Pearson Award to me is one of the nicest awards I've ever won. You get selected by your peers as the top player in the league."

In recognition of being named the 2007 Lester B. Pearson Award recipient, Sidney Crosby was presented with an elegant men's watch from Breitling.

In honor of the Lester B. Pearson nominees' outstanding seasons, the NHLPA's Goals & Dreams fund will be allocating a total of $40,000 dollars to the grassroots hockey programs selected by Crosby, Luongo and Lecavalier. Crosby has designated his hometown Cole Harbour Minor Hockey Association; Luongo has designated the Canucks for Kids Fund, and Lecavalier has selected the Rimouski Minor Hockey Association.

The NHLPA's Goals & Dreams fund has donated more than $15 million to grassroots hockey programs around the world, making it the largest program of its kind. Launched in 1999 as a way for the players to give something back to the game they love, Goals & Dreams has donated full sets of equipment to over 8,500 underprivileged children in 17 countries. In addition, 90 ice re-surfacers and 110 sets of boards and glass were provided to community arenas in small towns in Europe and North America. Funds are allocated on a pro-rated basis according to the nationalities of the NHLPA's membership.

Fans and media are encouraged to visit www.nhlpa.com to view multimedia features, further background information on the Lester B. Pearson Award, in-depth Finalist profiles, and the results of McFarlane Toys' Lester B. Pearson Contest and Prizes.

2006/2007 Lester B. Pearson Recipient