Sidney Crosby ranked No. 2 in CHL Top 50

Photo by Canadian Hockey League (CHL) / Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)



CALGARY — Sidney Crosby’s dominance in major junior hockey helped launch one of the greatest careers the sport has ever seen, and now the Canadian Hockey League has recognized that legacy with another historic honour.

The Rimouski Océanic icon, three-time Stanley Cup champion and longtime Pittsburgh Penguins captain was unveiled Wednesday as the No. 2 player on the CHL’s Top 50 Players of the Last 50 Years list, trailing only the yet-to-be-announced No. 1 selection.

Crosby became the highest-ranked active player on the list, finishing ahead of Wayne Gretzky at No. 3 and Connor McDavid at No. 4 in the CHL’s 50th anniversary countdown.

“I am honoured to be named to the CHL’s Top 50 Players of the Last 50 Years list, especially knowing how many great players have come through the CHL,” Crosby said in a statement released by the league Wednesday.

“Some of my favourite memories playing hockey came during my time at Rimouski, and those years in the QMJHL helped prepare me for the NHL.”

Crosby’s rise from phenom to generational superstar began almost immediately after the Océanic selected him first overall in the 2003 QMJHL Draft. The Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia native scored a hat trick in his first QMJHL game and never slowed down.

As a 16-year-old rookie in 2003-04, Crosby exploded for 135 points — including 54 goals and 81 assists — in just 59 games, setting a QMJHL record for points by a 16-year-old. He became the first 16-year-old in CHL history to win Player of the Year while also capturing CHL Rookie of the Year and CHL Top Scorer honours in the same season.

He somehow elevated his production the following year.

Crosby recorded 168 points in 62 games during the 2004-05 season, adding 31 more in 13 playoff contests while leading Rimouski to a QMJHL championship and a berth in the 2005 Memorial Cup final. He led the Memorial Cup tournament with 11 points in five games and earned the Ed Chynoweth Trophy as top scorer.

Across only two CHL seasons, Crosby produced staggering numbers: 303 points, 120 goals and 183 assists in 121 regular-season games, plus another 47 points in 22 playoff appearances.

The CHL noted Crosby remains the only player in league history to win five CHL Awards, including back-to-back CHL Player of the Year and CHL Top Scorer honours.

His dominance in junior became the foundation for one of hockey’s most decorated careers.

Selected first overall by Pittsburgh in the 2005 NHL Draft, Crosby helped transform the Penguins into a modern dynasty, winning Stanley Cups in 2009, 2016 and 2017. At 21 years old, he became the youngest captain in NHL history to win the Stanley Cup.

Now 38, Crosby continues adding to a résumé that already includes two Hart Trophies, two Art Ross Trophies, two Rocket Richard Trophies, three Ted Lindsay Awards and more than 1,700 NHL points. He is also tied with Steve Yzerman for the longest captaincy tenure in NHL history at 19 seasons.

Internationally, Crosby helped define a golden era for Canadian hockey.

His résumé includes Olympic gold medals in 2010 and 2014, a World Championship title in 2015, a World Cup championship in 2016 and the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off title. He is a member of the Triple Gold Club and captained Canada to multiple international championships.

The CHL’s Top 50 rankings were determined through a combination of media voting and fan voting as part of the league’s 50th anniversary celebrations.

The No. 1 player on the CHL’s Top 50 Players of the Last 50 Years list will be revealed Thursday.