When Sidney Crosby was fourteen years old, NHL scouts were raving about his potential. When he was fifteen, Wayne Gretzky said, Hes the best player Ive seen since Mario (Lemieux). Hes dynamite! At sixteen, he became the youngest player in World Junior Championship tournament history to score a goal. At seventeen, he won gold with Canada at the World Juniors, a victory that became the stuff of legend after his white sweater from that tournament went missing on his return home. Teary-eyed, he asked for its safe return, and just a few days later his wish came true. Crosby returned to Rimouski, his junior team in the Quebec league, and went on to win his second straight scoring championship. This summer he turns eighteen and is headed for a pro hockey career that fans are hoping might reach the level of the Great One, Wayne Gretzky. This is his story so far.

ANDREW PODNIEKS is the bestselling author of more than forty-five books, including World of Hockey: Celebrating 100 Years of the IIHF; The Complete Hockey Dictionary; Justin Morneau: All-Star Ball Star; GEM Hockey; and A Day in the Life of the Maple Leafs. Please visit www.andrewpodnieks.com for more on the author.]]>

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