Sid spotting hits Cape Breton
Visit of Crosby and fellow NHL star Nathan MacKinnon trends on social media
Thanks to social media, the days when a celebrity could pop into town and leave unnoticed are long gone.
That was certainly the case this weekend with many reports coming in from across Cape Breton that two of the best hockey players on the planet are on the island.
Social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram were buzzing with words and pictures of sightings and interactions with Nova Scotia hockey stars Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon.
Fifteen-year-old Nick Caverzan, of Sydney was one of the fortunate fans lucky enough to meet up with the pair. He even managed to get himself photographed with both of the National Hockey League players.
According to Caverzan, after hearing that Crosby and MacKinnon were golfing at Seaview in North Sydney, he and friend Daniel Dellorusso made their way to the course in hopes of seeing their hockey heroes.
“They were already golfing when we got there so we waited along with a crowd of other people, and then after they finished everybody gath- ered around their golf cart,” said Caverzan.
“But because it was hard for people to get to them they got out — most people crowded around Sidney Crosby because he’s a superstar, but I waited back and talked with Nathan MacKinnon and that was cool.”
The Sydney teen said the only thing he had for MacKinnon to sign was his Ottawa Senators hat, but that the 19- year-old member of the Colorado Avalanche didn’t mind autographing an opposition cap.
Mom Sheila even took to Twitter with a complimentary tweet about the players: “@Mackinnon9 thanks to you and Sid for making my son’s day today, even if he asked you to sign an Ottawa Senators hat :)”
The word on social media is that Crosby and MacKinnon, both of whom helped Canada claim the gold medal at the 2015 World Hockey Championship, are in Cape Breton to attend a wedding.
So far, the pair has also been seen at the Cabot Links golf course in Inverness, in downtown Sydney and in New Waterford.
Cynthia Campbell tweeted: “Can officially scratch talking to Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon off my bucketlist.”
Wrote Karalee Gillis: “Sidney Crosby was literally 2 steps away from my house today.”
Another simply stated: “I love Sidney Crosby.”
Other online posters, including loleina who wrote in a forum called ‘ Where in the World is Sidney Crosby?’, commented on the new scruffy appearance of the Pittsburgh Penguins captain: “The older he gets, the more good looking he gets. I like how he still looks so young when he shaves but can pull off the scruffy man look ... even his hair, he can rock a longer curly haircut just as good as short hair!”
Some had some fun with the lighter side of celebrity spotting, including a Twitter ac- count called Heard in CB Bars that posted the following: “We gotta go out tonight, Sidney Crosby might buy us nachos.”
The 27-year-old Crosby has also been the focus of some heated online debate as to whether or not he is still the best player in the world.
For local hockey fans who watched No. 87 play for the Rimouski Océanic in his major junior days, it may be hard to believe that Crosby has already played 10 NHL seasons. During that time he also hoisted the Stanley Cup and was part of two Canadian teams that won Olympic gold medals. He scored 28 goals and added 56 assists for 84 points in 77 games with the Penguins in 2014-15.
As for MacKinnon, he might still be considered to be in the emerging star category. Although he won’t turn 20 until Sept. 1, he has already played two seasons with the Avalanche after being selected first overall in the NHL’s 2013 entry draft. MacKinnon won the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie in his first season with Colorado. In his sophomore season with the Avs, MacKinnon netted 14 goals and chipped in 24 helpers in 64 games.