QMJHL to retire Crosby's No. 87
No player will ever wear No. 87 in the QMJHL from the 2020-21 season on, as the league announced it will officially retire the number in Sidney Crosby's honor.
Crosby was on hand in Rimouski, Quebec, on Friday night where his former team, the Oceanic, raised his number to the rafters. There, it was announced that No. 87 would be retired league-wide.
The Oceanic drafted Crosby first overall in 2003, which marked the beginning of a prolific junior career. In 121 games in the "Q," Crosby notched 303 points, and he's the only player to ever win back-to-back CHL Player of the Year awards.
The home crowd welcomed him back Friday with a raucous ovation:
Sidney Crosby makes his entrance in Rimouski. Quite a scene. pic.twitter.com/EkY4m75lzs
— Josh Yohe (@JoshYohe_PGH) September 27, 2019
Crosby, of course, graduated from Rimouski to become the first overall pick of the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2005.
The Oceanic currently boast the projected No. 1 pick in the 2020 NHL Draft in winger Alexis Lafreniere, who registered 105 points in 61 games last season.