Swayman enjoyed his TV time with Crosby
One of the TV spots getting abundant air time in the build-up to Monday’s Winter Classic features Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman and Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby on the ice in a one-on-one matchup.
Taped in Las Vegas prior to the opening of the training camps in September, the spot features Sid the Kid, 35, peppering Swayman, then yet to turn 24, with a series of shots.
The two also exchange some playful banter, with Swayman left to deliver the spot’s punchline: “You wanna take this outside?”
The sublime Crosby entered the NHL as an instant sensation in 200506, back when Swayman was in elementary school in Anchorage, parked in Row 1 for every University of AlaskaAnchorage home game, transfixed and mimicking the home team goalie’s every move. Ken Swayman, Jeremy’s father and a podiatrist, was one of the team doctors.
On Jan. 1, 2008, in what remains the signature moment for the Winter Classic, Crosby put a puck behind Sabres goalie Ryan Miller for the gamewinner. The snow fell at Orchard Park, N.Y., that afternoon as if conjured up by a Hollywood movie executive.
What would Swayman have thought if someone suggested, back in his elementary school days, that one day he’d be staring down Crosby, be it in the Winter Classic promo or in a BruinsPenguins matchup?
“Pretty surreal,” said a smiling Swayman a few days ago in Ottawa. “It’s pretty funny . . . they asked me to chirp him [during the taping session] and I said no. ’No, no, I am not chirping Sidney Crosby.’ ”
Swayman started against the Sabres in a Saturday matinee won by the Sabres in overtime, with No. 1 Linus Ullmark the likely choice to be in net as the guy who’ll oppose Crosby et al when the puck drops Monday for real at Fenway.
Prior to Saturday, Swayman had appeared in all of 70 NHL games, playoff action included. Crosby will suit up for a 1,324th time and owns more hardware than Home Depot, Lowe’s, and your neighborhood Ace outlet combined.
So, yeah, not a guy for a goalie other than, say, Martin Brodeur, Patrick Roy, or Dominik Hasek to be chirping.
“Yeah, he was funny about it, too. A super outgoing guy,” said a smiling Swayman. “It was just really special to spend time with him, get to chat, and get to know him a little bit. He’s really awesome.”
Swayman is young enough, and with little enough time served and still with just enough wide-eyed amazement, to have felt a sense of awe around Crosby, who has a spot reserved for him in Toronto at the Hockey Hall of Fame.
“Absolutely,” Swayman said. “He’s an icon in so many guys’ eyes. I watched him when I was growing up. I’m sure he’s heard that so much. He probably doesn’t love hearing that [as a sign of age]. But I have so much respect for him, not only as a player but as a person. You see how he treated me and everyone else. There’s a reason he’s the best of the best and has the reputation he does.”