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Sidney Crosby autograph moment sparks awkward drama after Team Canada practice


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Daniel Lucente
February 9, 2026  (3:30 PM)
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Feb 23, 2014; Sochi, RUSSIA; Canada forward Sidney Crosby (87) prepares for the face-off against Sweden in the men's ice hockey gold medal game during the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games at Bolshoy Ice Dome. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images
Photo credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images

Sidney Crosby autograph chase after Canada practice lit up the mixed zone, and the tension felt real on Monday.

A non media person reportedly slipped into the mixed zone looking for Crosby’s signature, and it did not go smoothly.
A few media members stepped in and told the person to leave, and the exchange sounded sharper than it needed to be.
That’s the clip making the rounds, and it’s a reminder that big events come with tight rules and tighter nerves.
Canada’s Olympic bubble already feels crowded, even before the puck drops in Milano Cortina.
Crosby is still Crosby, a magnet between the pipes, in the hallway, anywhere he walks.
The uncomfortable part is the setting, because mixed zones are work space first, fan space never.
It’s also February, and every security slip becomes a story all its own.

Sidney Crosby and Team Canada cannot afford distractions

You can feel fans rolling their eyes, because nothing drains the vibe faster than a preventable sideshow.
Crosby’s play stays the real headline, with 27-32-59 in 56 games this season.
If Team Canada wants clean messaging, it starts with clean access control and consistent boundaries.
Media frustration is understandable too, because one breach can turn a controlled scrum into chaos.
Crosby never asked to be the center of this, but his presence makes every small moment louder.
Now it’s on organizers to tighten the ropes and keep the focus where it belongs, on the next Canada game.
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Sidney Crosby autograph moment sparks awkward drama after Team Canada practice

Should Sidney Crosby autograph requests be totally banned in the mixed zone?


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