Sidney Crosby Shoots Down Claims Of Concussion During Practice

Sidney Crosby skated Tuesday morning during an informal practice for the Pittsburgh Penguins, which is fantastic news for the team, given that it was announced Monday that the captain had been diagnosed with another concussion.

Sidney Crosby Shoots Down Concussion Claims

The Penguins claimed the concussion occurred Friday during practice. Crosby, 29, said on Tuesday that he “just kinda got tangled up” during that practice and awoke Saturday morning feeling headaches he suspected could be concussion-related. Crosby consulted team doctors and entered the concussion protocol.

The timeline of his head injury led some to believe that the injury may have occurred at the World Cup of Hockey, and didn’t manifest itself until after the tournament, which ended on Sept. 29. Crosby hasn’t played a game for Pittsburgh during the exhibition season, and the injury allegedly occurred in only his second practice of the preseason. His first practice was on Oct. 4.

The Canadian center suffered a series of head and neck injuries that sidetracked his stellar career from 2011 to 2012. He missed 107 games over the course of two seasons, and later admitted that he questioned whether he would ever play professional hockey again.

Crosby smiled incredulously when asked about the concussion theories on Tuesday.

“It happened on Friday in practice, so … I mean, uh, I think the team stated it happened on Friday in practice. So I don’t know why there’d be speculation about it happening in the World Cup,” he said.

What exactly happened during practice, then?

“How many people were here at practice on Friday?” Crosby asked the assembled Pittsburgh media. “That’s not up to me [to say]. It happened. I’m not making this up, so if nobody saw it, I don’t know what to tell you.”

As for Crosby’s status, the Penguins captain said the concussion protocol is what it is, although he remains optimistic.

“I feel confident and comfortable that I’ll be OK. I feel good,” he said. “You understand the process. I think that progress is a good thing. You go day by day. I was happy to be able to skate today.”

The Penguins begin their season on Oct. 13 at home against the Washington Capitals.

PITTSBURGH, PA – JUNE 15:  Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins celebrates during the Victory Parade and Rally on June 15, 2016 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)