Pittsburgh Penguins’ Sidney Crosby, center, returns to the bench after scoring his second goal of the first period during an NHL hockey game against the Detroit Red Wings in Pittsburgh, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) Sidney Crosby went into Thursday night’s game with the burden of reflection and his normal preparation. The longtime captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins paid tribute to the memory of the late NHL forward, Lowell MacDonald, and his fellow Nova Scotian, who died at the age of 84, before the match with the Detroit Red Wings.The tribute had a particular significance to Crosby. MacDonald was one of the first to demonstrate what could be done since he was raised in a fairly low-producing province in terms of NHL players. He has been an inspiration to Crosby, as he frequently mentions his trip to Nova Scotia to an NHL star.
Sidney Crosby reflects on Lowell MacDonald’s legacy before Penguins and Wings game
Speaking to the media before the game, Sidney Crosby gave a speech on the significance of acknowledging the history of hockey, particularly its representatives from minor regions. He observed that players in Nova Scotia were prone to know the names and tales of the people who had preceded them. The fact that it was the Pittsburgh Penguins cemented the importance of the moment.Lowell MacDonald had an impressive career in the NHL that lasted almost 15 years with the Detroit Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings, and Pittsburgh Penguins. He was a two-time NHL All-Star and ended his career having scored 180 goals and 390 points in 506 games before retiring after the 1977-78 season. He did much more than just statistics.Following retirement from professional hockey, MacDonald spent nearly twenty years in teaching and mentorship, teaching at the University School of Milwaukee as a teacher, hockey coach, and athletic director.That is the legacy that Crosby brought on the ice and with that opened up the scoring against the Detroit Red Wings, with this the first goal of the new year for the Penguins team.Also Read: Net worth of Auston Matthews in 2025: Details on Vegas Golden Knights captain’s earnings, salary, and contracts