Few greater treasures exist for a hockey-loving nation than a player who has come to symbolize the sport most of us obsess over.

Sidney Crosby glitters like gold because of what he does on the ice. This puckish, Pittsburgh Penguin star is considered to be a Canadian treasure. And in the Christmas celebration of 2010, Crosby's gift to the game still creates a sense of wonder.

Even for the Scrooge in those of us who have allowed hockey to lose its sheen, "Sid the Kid" has the ability to bring us back. Just like the brand new pair of skates that we once rushed to discover under the tree - Crosby is a little bit of magic.

By his playing hockey Sidney causes us to follow his amazing voyage of delight even when we are distracted by other things. He's so good that if you aren't watching him you're really not watching the game.

Most influential Canadian

Recently CBCSports.ca declared he was the most influential person in the realm of Canadian sport. He polled more votes than all the executives, administrators and people wearing expensive suits who scheme behind the scenes to transform games into entertainment properties and business propositions.

Why?

It's because Sidney Crosby makes things happen by virtue of simply playing. He scored the "Golden Goal" that ignited a nation at the Olympics in Vancouver. In the end, he gave us the greatest celebration we could have hoped for. Others may have contributed but it was Crosby who, when all was said and done, was the founder of the feast.

His scoring exploits this season are causing us to keep track of his statistics and check in on games when the Penguins are playing in spite of the fact that we've already lost faith in the Leafs and other beloved teams. You have to smile each time you see a kid wearing a Penguins sweater with Crosby's name tattooed on the back.

He causes people to believe.

I remember when my colleague Bruce Rainnie first introduced us to Sidney Crosby on Hockey Day in Canada a few years back and we all discovered the kid from Nova Scotia who was known to fire pucks at his mother's washer and dryer. I met him with Kelly Hrudey at Grand Parade Square in Halifax. He was just a smiling boy.

Crosby was a wonder then and remains a wonder now.

The gift of Sid is very welcome this Christmas. He is to hockey what spirit is to the season - the essential ingredient.

I don't think anyone ever implied otherwise.

It's simply a comment about how stupid shit like this helps propionate the negative opinion of Crosby.

Not knocking his ability to play in the NHL, it's propaganda like this that a lot of us hockey fans are sick and tired of.

"He's so good that if you aren't watching him you're really not watching the game."

You can't be serious!?

There are skilled players in the NHL that are also worthy of watching or keeping tabs on. What? Just because Cindy is on the ice you should only be paying attention to him? Someone could net 6 goals in one game, but if Crosby gets an assist it's on the front page of nhl.com and other hockey media sources.

Being a fellow Maritimer, it pained me beyond words when he scored the goal to win gold for Canada. My exact words were, "WHY!? Anyone but him!!" I felt bad for the US team and not because it was scored on Miller, but the fact that it would be shoved in the faces of everyone in both Canadian and US markets for weeks, if not months. Tell me; does the fact that I hated it when he scored that goal make me any less of a Canadian?

We get that he has skill coming out his ears. He's had a great impact on the NHL scene since he first broke into the league. But for the love of god, enough is enough.

Wow, did Crosby's mom write that or what?

Uh, what? Pitching in college AFTER signing a pro contract? How exactly did he pull that miracle off with no eligibility?

I couldn't finish the second sentence and I like Crosby!

You know, I'm sure the blow jobs for Ovie are just as gross, yet for some reason he's got this "passion" label that makes it okay to over-expose him.

That I don't agree with, to me, Ovechkin is a much bigger douche than Crosby. On and off the ice. I like Ovie, but the whole innocent Russian thing got boring for me halfway through his rookie season.