Sidney Crosby is known for his laser-sharp focus, incredible leadership, and uncanny ability to elevate his game when it matters most.
But behind the scenes, there’s a surprisingly human and quirky side to the NHL legend that only those closest to him truly understand.
His pregame routine is filled with superstitions that have evolved into strict family rules, some stemming from experiences that can only be described as oddly coincidental and, at times, downright eerie.
The Game Day Rule: No Contact With Mom or Sister
For Crosby, game days are all about routine and avoiding certain people, including two of the most important women in his life: his mother, Trina, and his sister, Taylor. This unusual game-day rule, as Taylor once shared publicly, isn’t just a preference. Instead, it’s rooted in a long series of incidents that have convinced the family it’s best to keep their distance.
“Our whole family is superstitious,” Taylor admitted in interviews. But the most serious restriction of all? “He can’t talk to me or my mother on game days.” The origin of this peculiar rule goes back to Crosby’s junior hockey days. As Taylor explained, “This all started because in junior, uh, talked to me and he separated shoulder. So then it kind of went downhill from there.”
The pattern continued when Crosby tried to break what was beginning to feel like a curse. “He tried to break the curse and he called my mom and she was like, ‘Should we be talking?’ He’s like, ‘Yeah yeah it’s fine it’s fine.’ Uh, then that game he ended up breaking his foot.”
The superstitions only intensified as time went on. When Taylor was staying with Crosby during his early days in Pittsburgh, another odd moment unfolded. “It was my birthday weekend and saw him pregame. I was like, ‘Oh my god this is going to be bad.’ And uh, he ended up breaking his foot again. His other one.”
When Superstition Became Family Law
The final straw came during the 2011 NHL Winter Classic, when the stakes were highest and the audience was largest. Taylor recalled the moment that cemented their family’s unspoken rule: “When he, uh, got his concussion, the Winter Classic, he saw me. We didn’t talk. He just saw me in the passing. So I was like, ‘Oh my god.’ And he got a concussion.”
That concussion, suffered after a hit from Washington Capitals center David Steckel, would sideline Crosby for the remainder of the 2010-11 season and much of the following year. The incident marked a turning point for the family, transforming what had been a series of unfortunate coincidences into an ironclad rule.
From that point forward, the Crosby family established a strict, unspoken protocol: stay clear of Crosby on game days. Taylor described how seriously they took this commitment, even during international competitions. She recalled a time during the World Championships in Prague when they were staying in the same hotel. “On game days it was like we stayed in our room, didn’t move.”
The family’s dedication to maintaining this superstition speaks to both their love for Crosby and their recognition of the psychological factors that can impact athletic performance.
Whether it’s true superstition or just a string of freakish coincidences, the Crosby family isn’t willing to take any more chances. These stories offer a rare glimpse into how seriously professional athletes, and their loved ones, can take game-day rituals, especially when they’re tied to repeated patterns of misfortune. While some may dismiss these habits as quirky or irrational, to the Crosby family, they’ve become an ingrained part of his career success.
Given what he’s accomplished – three Stanley Cups (2009, 2016, 2017), two Olympic gold medals (2010, 2014), and a legacy as one of hockey’s all-time greats – perhaps these superstitions are worth respecting. After all, for a player of Crosby’s stature, every edge counts, even if it means avoiding a phone call from your own family.
