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Sidney Crosby was one of the players that was made available to the media on Sunday when Hockey Canada’s orientation camp started in Calgary. Crosby talked about the upcoming Olympics, the Vancouver games, and gay rights.
Here are some Crosby quotes about the orientation camp courtesy of the
Calgary Sun :
“It was nice to skate last time,” said Pittsburgh Penguins star and 2010 gold-medal hero Sidney Crosby upon arriving at the Calgary airport.
“It wasn't that long, it was a few days, but it was good to skate. It would have been nice (this year) but I still think we can get something out of this.
“Coming in here, guys are going to be able to figure things out.
“Once the team is assembled and you get over there, there's not a lot of time, so the more you can prepare, know what's going to happen, know what to expect, the better off you are.
“I think a lot of that's going to happen the next few days.”
Insurance issues preventing players from skating as a team are not limited to affecting Hockey Canada. Today Team USA will also be starting their camp and they too will not be partaking in any on ice activities because of insurance related issues.
Crosby also admitted that the Vancouver Olympic games provided the most pressure that he has ever experienced as a hockey player.
The comments from Crosby that will probably gain the most attention are his views on Russia’s anti-gay policy. Quote is courtesy of
ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun :
"For me growing up in Canada, my view has always been that way," Crosby said during a news conference Sunday to kick off Canada's Olympic camp. "I think that everyone has an equal right to play and I think we've been supportive of that. With the Olympics and the controversy around that I think those decisions and those laws aren't necessarily something that I agree with personally ... their laws and their views."
I think it is a good thing that Crosby and other NHL players are making comments like this. While the United States still has a ways to go in their own handling of gay rights (specifically marriage), they certainly don’t have laws against being gay like Russia.
Despite the Russian anti-gay policy, I do not believe a boycott is the proper course of action. Former Leafs GM Brian Burke has spoke out on the topic and I agree with how he views the situation 100%. Here are his comments from the
Toronto Globe and Mail :
“People should make it known that this type of bias can’t take place,” Burke said. “But I think a boycott is misplaced. A boycott punishes the athletes. If we say we’re not going in the face of these laws, I think that punishes every Canadian, American, Argentinian athlete that’s prepared so hard for these Games. I don’t think it’s appropriate.
“The appropriate measure should be that as long as these laws are on the books, Russia should not be awarded another international competition. In the meantime, they’ve got to guarantee everybody’s safety.”
Boycotts in the Olympics do not work. Nothing came from United States boycott of Russia in 1980 and nothing came from Russia's boycott of the US in 1984.
While on the topic of Russia, Evgeni Malkin was recently busy beating up kids at a charity hockey game.
An interesting tidbit of information from Team USA’s Olympic camp from GM David Poile is that none of the 48 players at camp were alive for ‘Miracle on Ice’.
The Penguins have a definite presence at the Team USA camp with Paul Martin, Brooks Orpik, and Beau Bennett all attending as players. Dan Bylsma and Tony Granato are on the coaching staff, and even Bill Guerin is present. Assistant GM Ray Shero is also at camp.
That is all for now.
Pittsburgh will be hosting Team USA's prospect camp
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