#2006 worlds

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Evgeni Malkin's Superman Goal | 1:21 [x] May 9, 2006 - Worlds @ Riga, Latva

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Margarita Drobiazko and Povilas Vanagas practising and competing their Phantom of the Opera free dance at the 2006 World Championships.

(© A. Chempinski)

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"Who do you think does better with the ladies, you or Ovechkin?" Sidney Crosby - Next Question | 2:11 [x] 2006 Worlds - Riga, Latvia

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Crosby returns to Pittsburgh: Top pick ready for a little rest

Chuck Finder | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | June 1, 2006

After a whirlwind 10 months—from being the ultra-hyped No. 1 pick at the Ottawa draft to bunking in Pittsburgh's Hotel de Lemieux to scoring a record 102 Penguins points to leading the World Championship in scoring in Latvia to, upon returning stateside, lunching with the new Penguins general manager—it's no wonder hockey wunderkind Sidney Crosby has one thing in mind for his immediate itinerary:

Just chill.

Being Sidney Crosby, though, even that won't last long.

"I want to have some time to relax a bit and get ready for next season," Crosby said yesterday at Mellon Arena, his first media availability since before leaving for Latvia. "I think the way I prepared before last season, for me ... it's important to get rest. But it's also important to work. Everybody wants to have a better season than last year.

"I want to get to the playoffs. There's no doubt about that. But our focus should be having a good start and coming in with the right frame of mind for training camp. To say we're going to make the playoffs next year, that's too far ahead. We've got to focus on the short term."

Next on the crammed Crosby agenda is a trip home to Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia. A little beach, a little golf, a little hanging with his buds. You know, the kind of summertime stuff most any 18-year-old plans to do once school finishes, let alone a 90-plus game schedule from the NHL to the World Championship.

A workout maven, starting with weight-training for leg strength at age 13, Crosby isn't one to stay away from the ice for long. That, along with inherent gifts, helps to explain why he became the youngest player in NHL history to surpass 100 points and the first Penguins rookie to top Mario Lemieux's team records for assists (63) and points (102).

In Latvia with five former Team Canada teammates from the World Junior Championship and a bunch of other NHL players, Crosby was the World Championship leader in goals (eight) and points (16) in nine games.

There also was that run-in with Sweden's Mika Hannula, who clocked Crosby with a wicked crosscheck seconds after Crosby scored a goal in their semifinal game. A "dangerous, dangerous" incident, he called it, but then he exonerated Hannula for "trying to protect his goalie."

"It was a little scary when it happened. I felt pretty bad, but that's all," said Crosby, who initially was pained, but eventually emerged unscathed. "It's nice that I could come out of it."

Of the overall impact of playing in the tournament where you're "pushing yourself like the playoffs," he added, "I think it was a great experience for me ... to play at that level. I'll definitely benefit."

Crosby's thoughts about a few other subjects raised yesterday:

On Ray Shero, the newly hired general manager: "Seems like a great guy. Really passionate. We're all looking forward to getting started. He just asked me about the World Championships. Hopefully, I'll get a chance to know him."

On the possibility that he would offer advice on how the team should be structured: "I don't know. I think if it's asked, I'll be up front and honest. But at the same time, I'm not going to be someone who goes over there and demands things. I'm not looking to change anything. That's up to the general manager and the organization to change things. My job is to play."

On the World Championship scoring title: "To be honest, I didn't even think about it. I didn't have any idea until late in the tournament that I was leading. It was great playing with [Boston's Patrice] Bergeron; we played together at the Juniors."

On potential future Penguins teammate Evgeni Malkin, who also dazzled at the World Championships with three goals and nine points: "Saw him a couple of times just passing by. But I don't think he speaks English too much. Just a 'hello.' From what I saw, he had a great tournament."

On continuing to stay at Lemieux's home, even if the team's No. 2 overall selection is invited to live there as well: "Maybe there's a couple of extra rooms."

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Albena Denkova and Maxim Staviski's costumes for their free dance to a modern version of Albinoni's Adagio in G minor, seen here at the 2006 Worlds and 2006 Olympics.

(Sources: 1 and 2)

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Kristin Fraser and Igor Lukanin skating the Golden Waltz at the 2005 European Championships and Ravensburger Waltz at the 2006 World Championships.

(Sources: 1, 2, 3 and 4)

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Amanda Nylander competing in the free program at the 2006 World Championships.

(Photos by Dave Buston and Jeff Haynes)