Sidney Crosby credits trainer's innovative regimen as key ingredient to his success
Pittsburgh Penguins forward Sidney Crosby was only 13 years old when he met a recent college graduate with a kinesiology degree named Andy O'Brien. Even at 13 Crosby had the potential to make it to the NHL, but it's his relationship with O'Brien that Crosby
credits as being one of the major factors leading to his success at the professional level.
"He's kind of a multi-sport trainer, and so for me I enjoy being athletic," Crosby of O'Brien to NHL.com. "I don't mind lifting weights, but I like trying to be athletic when I'm doing it, too. I've been with him for nine years, and it's been good.
"He's got a pretty good feel on things, and I enjoy the stuff we do. It's always new and when you train every day in the summer, it needs to be new. I think he does a good job of that."
When he began working with Crosby, O'Brien took an in-depth look at the physical demands that were put on a professional hockey player and built a regime tailored specifically to that type of athlete.
"It's important when you are training to not just train in a static environment, but to train dynamically and identify some of the key variables you need in hockey," O'Brien said. "Hockey is not about muscles working individually. They really have to work
in sequence. You have to be really flexible in certain areas, but you have to be strong and stable in other areas, as well."
The results of O'Brien's training methods are plainly visible as, aside from an ankle injury, Crosby has been a model of health since entering the NHL as an 18-year-old. Crosby went on to win the Stanley Cup two seasons ago becoming the youngest ever captain
to hoist the trophy. Crosby also scored the winning goal for Canada in the 2010 Olympics which were held in Vancouver. At only 23 years old perhaps the best is yet to come.
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