Sid the Kid's kid sister thrives at Shattuck

Family first

Sidney spent only one year at Shattuck. In 57 games, he scored 162 points.

Since coming to the NHL in 2005 with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Sid the Kid has seen his profile continue to rise. In addition to his numerous awards and accolades, he starred in HBO’s recent documentary “24/7″ that gave viewers a rare look into the life of a professional hockey player.

Taylor watched, of course. But to her, the guy with the scoring-streak mustache playing video games on a late-night team flight was only her big brother.

“I don’t think of him as the Pittsburgh Penguins captain like he is,” she said. “People don’t really get that. But how you think of your sibling is how I think of him. And that’s great.”

The rigors for Taylor at Shattuck and Sidney in the NHL mean that face time between the two is rare. But they remain close.

“He was a great big brother and he still is,” Taylor said.

Growing up in Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, Sidney, 23, was often the babysitter when he wasn’t on the ice. To this day he remains protective.

“She’s really enjoying her time [at Shattuck] and I’m happy to hear that,” Sidney said. “Obviously being away from home at a young age, the most important thing is that she’s comfortable and having fun. And she is.”

Carving a niche

Teammates on her U16 squad and fellow students quickly figured out she was there to make her own mark as a goaltender – even if her brother’s jersey does hang prominently in the arena lobby.

“People took it really cool,” said fellow freshman Kourtney Menches, a forward from South Carolina. “They gave her space. We realized that if we were in her position, we’d want to be treated just like a regular old teammate.”

That was welcome news for a girl still finding her niche. Remember, she’s not only Crosby’s sister, but she’s also been a goalie for a scant few years – a decision cemented when her parents, Troy and Trina, decided the small investment in a set of pads couldn’t hurt.

“She had her ups and downs, like anyone,” said Troy Crosby, a former goaltender himself who was a 1984 draft pick by Montreal but never played in the NHL. “But she worked hard at it and loved it. That’s the main thing: she enjoys it. That’s the best way to get better.”

Shattuck-St. Mary’s brings in one girls’ goalie each year to fill out its roster: two on the U16 team and two on the prep team. Seven or eight tried out last spring, and Taylor stood out not because of her last name but her talent.

“She definitely earned it,” U16 coach Dan Koch said. “We realized she hadn’t been playing a long time. But she had the skills. There is room for improvement, but you throw in good, strong work habits and you get a good goalie out of it.”

Part of a trend

The girls’ program at Shattuck has risen to the level of its counterpart. The boys’ prep team at Shattuck won its first Tier I U18 national championship in 1999 and has added four titles since then. The girls’ prep team won in 2005-07 and again in ’09. Last year, the girls’ U16 team won its first national championship. The U16 team is 27-15-6 this year, with Crosby’s mark at 9-6-4. Six of her victories are by shutout.

For more than 100 years, Shattuck-St. Mary’s was a renowned military school. It continues to be an academic challenge, with a 63-page academic course guide that rivals many colleges.

In the 1990s, it blossomed into a hot spot for hockey – and more recently for soccer and figure skating. It comes with a price.

Tuition for boarding students is nearly $40,000 per year, with an extra $4,000 tacked on annually to play varsity hockey.

The rewards, though, can be enormous. The past two Stanley Cup-winning captains – Crosby and the Chicago Blackhawks’ Jonathan Toews – went to Shattuck. So did five other Olympians – three men and two women – from last year’s U.S. and Canada hockey rosters in Vancouver.

The surnames that have called Faribault home read like an inscription on the Stanley Cup. Gretzky’s son played at Shattuck, as did Mario Lemieux’s daughter. Anthony Brodeur, son of Martin, is a sophomore goaltender on the U16 boys’ team.

The long haul

Though only a freshman with a world of opportunities ahead, Taylor Crosby plans to spend her entire prep career in Faribault. From there, she has college and international aspirations.

“It was so motivating to watch [Sidney] win in the Olympics,” she said. “And I saw the Canadian girls win the day before. I was like, ‘Wow. One day I could do that if I work hard.’”

In a nod to her current situation and future dreams, Sidney surprised Taylor with a new goalie mask last month when the family celebrated Christmas. The entrance arch to Shattuck-St. Mary’s campus and a maple leaf with the flag of Nova Scotia in the middle are painted brightly on it.

Taylor cried when she received the gift.

“Knowing that he’s been here, too, it’s comforting to know that he gets what it’s like and how hard you have to work to get here,” she said. “Through everything, I’m still his little sister.”