Flames Players Share Sidney Crosby Stories: From Text Mishaps to Team Canada Camaraderie
What is it truly like to share a locker room and ice time with one of hockey's greatest icons? For Calgary Flames defenceman MacKenzie Weegar and head coach Ryan Huska, that experience became a reality during the 2025 IIHF World Championship, where they had the unique opportunity to play alongside Pittsburgh Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby while representing Team Canada.
A Text Message Moment of Panic
MacKenzie Weegar experienced a moment of genuine panic during his time with the national team this past spring. While competing at the world hockey championship in Denmark and Sweden, Weegar received a text message from an unfamiliar number. Following standard protocol, the Flames blueliner tapped out a simple reply: "Who's this?"
Then realization struck. He had just potentially insulted a national hero and hockey legend. The text had come from none other than Sidney Crosby himself.
"I deleted it right away," Weegar recounted with a smile, shaking his head softly at the memory. "I was like, I can't believe I just said, 'Who's this?' to Sidney Crosby. I was thinking, 'Oh my God, he can't know I said that.' Hopefully he never saw that text."
Crosby's Continuing Legacy
Now 38 years old, Sidney Crosby remains one of the NHL's brightest stars and continues to command immense respect from opponents across the league. As the Pittsburgh Penguins prepare for their annual visit to Calgary's Saddledome, Crosby arrives with impressive statistics: 26 goals and 29 assists through 48 appearances this season.
This performance puts him on track to extend his remarkable record of point-per-game campaigns to an unprecedented 21 consecutive seasons, surpassing Wayne Gretzky's previous standard of 19 straight seasons. Most hockey enthusiasts would place both players among the sport's all-time greats.
Team Canada Experience
Despite the tournament ending with a surprising quarterfinal loss to Denmark, Weegar cherished his two-and-a-half weeks as Crosby's teammate. Canada's roster featured six players already selected for the upcoming Olympics, including Crosby alongside forwards Macklin Celebrini, Bo Horvat, and Nathan MacKinnon, plus defenceman Travis Sanheim and goaltender Jordan Binnington.
"It's just his presence when he's in the room," Weegar explained about Crosby. "But he's so humble. It's like he doesn't know that he has that aura around him that you're talking about."
The Human Side of a Hockey Icon
Weegar described trying to maintain composure around the legendary center while simultaneously soaking in the experience. "You want to act or play it cool, but you catch yourself thinking, 'Oh, Sid is right there.' But I just had a blast with him. You really, really can't get a better human being."
The Flames defenceman spent considerable time with Crosby during the tournament and noted his remarkable interpersonal skills. "When he talks to people, he's really listening and he'll remember everything you say. When you see him next time, he'll bring up, 'Hey, when we spoke about this over there... Did you end up doing that?' He's just so present with you."
Weegar also observed Crosby's legendary work ethic firsthand: "He's out with the guys and then he's up early and at the rink. He really does it all. It was really impressive. It was really cool."
As Weegar and Crosby prepare to face each other once again in NHL competition, the Calgary defenceman now presumably has that important contact number safely saved in his phone—ensuring no future text message misunderstandings with one of hockey's most respected figures.
