CROSBY Not Participating in "A Bout de Souffle" Tournament

I was browsing the LetsGoPens.com message boards today and come across an interesting post about Sidney not being healthy enough to play in the "A Bout de Souffle" which got me searching the web for more information.

The "A Bout de Souffle" is a hockey tournament that has been held every year for the past 15 years. "A Bout de Souffle" translates to "Breathless" in English (Breathless Tournament). It runs from Friday, July 25 - Sunday, July 27 at the Magog Arena in Magog, Quebec Canada this year. Last year, Crosby helped his team, Perreault/Maxi Club, become the champions of the tournament for the second consecutive year. According to the articles I found, Crosby will not be participating in the tournament this year; but 2 other Penguins who are to take part are Kris Letang and Jean-Michel Daoust (Wilkes-Barre / Scranton). Other NHL stars participating in the 2008 tournament include Stephan Robidas, Jocelyn Thibault, Pierre-Marc Bouchard, and David Perron. To date the tournament raised a total $130,000 benefiting various local charities and ill children.

2007 "A Bout de Souffle" Tournament Champions (Perreault/Maxi Club)

Speculation on the LGP message boards was that he is fine (healthy), but that he wants to wait until training camp before he skates on his ankle. This would be a good guess and would show Crosby's commitment to the Pens and winning a Stanley Cup (he got a taste of it and HE WANTS IT BAD), so he'll do whatever it takes!!!

To read these articles, click on a link below (translation courtesy of YAHOO! Babel Fish):

• Dubious presence of Crosby to the breathless Tournament
• Crosby did not start again to patinate… and it will shine by its absence with Magog

The "A Bout de Souffle" Tournament official webpage (translation also courtesy of YAHOO! Babel Fish):

"A Bout de Souffle" Tournament