Mike Sullivan lauds Sidney Crosby's "The Beatles"-like impact in Sudbury

By Anjum Rajonno

Modified Sep 30, 2024 05:25 GMT

NHL superstars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin participated in the Kraft Hockeyville game on Sunday, which was held in northern Ontario. The Pittsburgh Penguins played against the Ottawa Senators in Sudbury Community Arena and the game was hosted by Elliot Lake.

After the game, Penguins' head coach Mike Sullivan talked about the impact Crosby had on the local fans. He compared Crosby's popularity in Canada to the Beatles and mentioned how excited people were to see him.

“When he comes to Canada, it’s like the Beatles, you know? I think it's so impressive to watch him interact with kids when he comes to these environments,” Sullivan said.

Crosby took time to talk to the younger fans on the occasion, sign autographs, and answer their questions during a Q&A session. Sullivan had high praise for his star player, saying that Crosby truly represents the best of hockey.

“He understands the influence that he can have and what it means to kids in environments like this, and he takes the time to make sure that he gives his time to all of these opportunities… he just represents everything that's right about hockey,” the Penguins coach added.

Sidney Crosby and the Penguins were part of an effort to give back to smaller communities. Sullivan said that it was their responsibility to support these communities, as they are the ones who support the team. Crosby scored two goals and his teammate Evgeni Malkin netted a hat trick on the evening.

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Sidney Crosby praises crowd turnout in the Kraft Hockeyville game

While speaking to the media after the game, Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby mentioned how motivating it was to see the huge crowd turnout. He also admitted that he loved taking time to interact with fans, no matter how many times he has been in similar situations over the years.

“You look at different experiences over the years, and I don’t think that stuff ever gets old when you’re in positions like this,” Crosby said.

“It’s a preseason game, you haven’t played in five months, I think it’s definitely motivating when you have a turnout like we did and you see how excited people are to see an NHL game up close,” he added.

He mentioned that moments like these stick with him because they remind him of the connection with fans. Crosby expressed his appreciation for the warm welcome and hospitality they received, hoping that they gave the fans a memorable experience.