As he turns 30 on Monday, Sidney Crosby will celebrate his third Stanley Cup win parading the cherished mug through the streets of the city where he香蕉视频直播檚 been a star since he was five years old.

The Pittsburgh Penguins captain will take in the festivities knowing that after 12 years in the NHL, his place is already assured in the pantheon of the game香蕉视频直播檚 greats and that he has fulfilled the promise that many saw in him from almost the first time he laced up a pair of skates.

In the tradition of Orr, Gretzky, Lemieux and now Connor McDavid, 香蕉视频直播淪id the Kid,香蕉视频直播� was a hockey prodigy.

香蕉视频直播淗e was not only the best player I ever saw, but significantly the best player,香蕉视频直播� said Brian Newton, a retired lawyer who coached a seven-year-old Crosby as a high-scoring centre on Cole Harbour香蕉视频直播檚 Novice AAA Wings.

In a recent interview, Newton recalled his first brush with a five-year-old Crosby 香蕉视频直播� it came after getting a phone call from Sidney香蕉视频直播檚 father Troy.

Newton said the hockey season was about a month old when Troy Crosby asked that his son, who was playing Timbits hockey at the time, be moved up to play with the six-year-old group.

Knowing how some parents can be, Newton said he agreed to see whether the move should be made, but he asked Troy not to describe his son.

香蕉视频直播淚 said 香蕉视频直播榃ell no, if he香蕉视频直播檚 this good a player I香蕉视频直播檒l be able to pick him out,香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈�� said Newton.

Newton said shortly after the conversation he went to a Cole Harbour rink one Saturday morning.

香蕉视频直播淚 just kind of hid myself from the parents and out these guys came and he just stuck out like a sore thumb,香蕉视频直播� he recalled. 香蕉视频直播淚t was just amazing 香蕉视频直播� I香蕉视频直播檇 never seen anyone with that skill level at five years of age.香蕉视频直播�

Newton said he was 香蕉视频直播渁mazed香蕉视频直播� to watch the young Crosby control the puck as a gaggle of tiny players frantically tried to get it away from him.

Crosby was moved up with the six-year-olds and the next year he started playing rep, a level reserved for the best players in each age group.

Newton said at six and seven years of age, Crosby香蕉视频直播檚 physical skills were clearly recognizable 香蕉视频直播� as were other traits that often separate the great ones.

香蕉视频直播淗e not only had the physical skills, but when I looked at him he had that inner quality, that desire, that drive and that followed Sidney right through minor hockey,香蕉视频直播� he said.

There was also a 香蕉视频直播渜uiet confidence香蕉视频直播� Newton noted, that enabled him to possess the puck in the face of players who were often one to two years older than he was.

A trace of the trait was evident in one of Crosby香蕉视频直播檚 very first media interviews.

香蕉视频直播淭hey say you have to do your best and work hard and things will happen,香蕉视频直播� he told the Halifax Daily News in a feature written in April 1995 when Crosby was seven.

香蕉视频直播淵ou can make it if you try.香蕉视频直播�

Crosby香蕉视频直播檚 minor hockey dominance continued into peewee, where he announced his arrival on a much bigger stage, the Quebec International Peewee Tournament.

His coach then and current family friend, Paul Mason, said going into the tournament the media hype surrounded a local boy as the next 香蕉视频直播渕ust-see香蕉视频直播� player.

That all changed after Crosby scored six goals and four assists for Cole Harbour in his first tournament game.

香蕉视频直播淲e compared him against the best in the world and he was the best,香蕉视频直播� said Mason. 香蕉视频直播淵ou knew at that point that you had someone here that was pretty special.香蕉视频直播�

Mason said there were times he and the other coaches realized the best thing to do was to sit back and watch.

香蕉视频直播淪ometimes you would just sit back and go, 香蕉视频直播極h my God,香蕉视频直播� and just look at each other 香蕉视频直播� did he really do that?香蕉视频直播� said Mason. 香蕉视频直播淭here were several times that you did that during the year 香蕉视频直播� he was that good.香蕉视频直播�

Former CBC sports broadcaster Bruce Rainnie first heard the buzz about a young Crosby in 1995 and after initial skepticism, finally decided to check him out at the urging of legendary Halifax sports writer Pat Connolly.

Rainnie said an undersized Crosby recorded nine goals and two assists in a 13-9 Cole Harbour win over Shearwater.

香蕉视频直播淚 thought if he develops into any sort of average to larger-sized athlete, this is going to be an NHL legend,香蕉视频直播� Rainnie recalls. 香蕉视频直播淎nd it was obvious from, honestly, the age of eight.香蕉视频直播�

Crosby香蕉视频直播檚 dominance in Nova Scotia lasted until the age of 14 when he left home to play at Shattuck-St. Mary香蕉视频直播檚, a prep school in Minnesota. From there it was on to Rimouski in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and finally the NHL, where his numbers confirm his status as a future Hall of Famer:

香蕉视频直播� 382 goals

香蕉视频直播� 645 assists

香蕉视频直播� Three Stanley Cups

香蕉视频直播� Two Olympic Gold Medals

香蕉视频直播� Two Hart Trophies as the NHL香蕉视频直播檚 most valuable player

Through it all he香蕉视频直播檚 remained very much the hometown boy. It香蕉视频直播檚 something that香蕉视频直播檚 endeared him to his fans and to those with a personal connection.

香蕉视频直播淔ame and fortune I don香蕉视频直播檛 think have really changed him very much at all,香蕉视频直播� said Newton. 香蕉视频直播淓verybody in Cole Harbour, they respect him so much because he always comes home, he香蕉视频直播檚 always down to earth, he香蕉视频直播檚 running his hockey school here and he香蕉视频直播檚 still part of our community.香蕉视频直播�

Halifax香蕉视频直播檚 mayor recently announced that Crosby would be parade marshal of Monday香蕉视频直播檚 annual Natal Day parade, with thousands expected to cheer a favourite son.

香蕉视频直播淚 know he香蕉视频直播檚 richer and I know he香蕉视频直播檚 more famous,香蕉视频直播� Rainnie said, 香蕉视频直播渂ut his fundamental groundings have never changed.香蕉视频直播�