Sidney Crosby candidly reflects on Golden Goal, 10 years after

Arun Srinivasan
·Contributing Writer
·2 min read
It's been 10 years since Sidney Crosby scored the most important goal in Canadian hockey history. (YURI KADOBNOV/AFP via Getty Images)
It's been 10 years since Sidney Crosby scored the most important goal in Canadian hockey history. (YURI KADOBNOV/AFP via Getty Images)

It’s hard to believe but it’s been 10 years since Sidney Crosby scored the most important goal in Canadian hockey history.

Crosby notched the golden goal against the United States in overtime at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver to secure the gold medal with a 3-2 victory, establishing his status as a national hero.

A decade after the iconic moment, Crosby reflected on the accomplishment in an exclusive with The Athletic’s Josh Yohe.

“At that point, I had to tell myself that it was overtime,” Crosby told Yohe.

“In that situation, you really don’t want to pass up an opportunity. And I figured that, since I didn’t really have a great angle there, my best chance was probably to get the puck away as quickly as I could. Honestly, it was pretty much a reaction. It’s not like I was picking a spot or anything like that. I really wasn’t. I just thought the key for me was to get the shot off as quickly as I possibly could.”

Here’s another look at the goal as Crosby deposits a feed from Jarome Iginla past Ryan Miller for the victory.

Crosby admitted he’s been touched by the countless stories of people reacting to his goal, a true intersection of national pride and sports.

“The reaction around Vancouver and around Canada, it’s something I’ll never forget. What I remember most is all these stories from buddies of mine, friends of mine, people in the community. Just so many different people that I’ve met. So many people have told me where they were when they were watching and when the goal went in. It was so cool at the moment it happened, to be a part of it, and to experience it.

Since leading Canada to victory in 2010, Crosby won another gold medal, two more Stanley Cups, two Conn Smythe Trophies, a Hart Trophy, continuing to make his mark as arguably the best player of his generation. Although he’s won everything during his decorated career, his golden goal against the United States will always be the lasting image of his career.

You can read the full interview here.

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