Crosby: 'When you think of hockey, you think of Gordie Howe'

As tributes continue to pour in after the loss of Detroit Red Wings legend Gordie Howe, Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby spoke to reporters Saturday about what Mr. Hockey meant to him.

"When you think of hockey, that's what you think of. You think of Gordie Howe - the way he played, the way he conducted himself. He was a role model for a lot of people, including myself," Crosby said, according to ESPN's Craig Custance.

"I had the opportunity to meet him and feel pretty fortunate to have done that."

ESPN's Joe McDonald also had a discussion with Crosby about the possibility of the Penguins and San Jose Sharks wearing No. 9 jerseys during warmups prior to Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final, and No. 87 said "he's all for it" and would ask the league if they could make that happen.

Crosby wore No. 9 in honor of Howe for a season, while playing at Shattuck-St. Mary's Boarding School in Minnesota as a 15-year-old.