Crosby's gold-medal Olympic stick, glove found

TORONTO (AP) - The stick and glove Sidney Crosby used to give Canada its Olympic gold medal are back where they belong.

Crosby's missing gear was on its way to the Pittsburgh Penguins star on Wednesday. Hockey Canada says the gear was misplaced rather than stolen, with both items ending up in the wrong place in the process of packing and shipping equipment after the Olympic final.

The stick and glove got lost in the shuffle after the frenzy of Crosby's overtime goal for a 3-2 win against the United States at the Vancouver Olympics on Feb. 28.

"I'm grateful to everyone who took the time and effort to get my equipment back for me," Crosby said the Penguins Web site. "These items are irreplaceable and I'm happy to have them back."

Crosby's stick was located in Toronto as part of a shipment heading to the International Ice Hockey Federation Hall of Fame in St. Petersburg, Russia. The stick was being sent to the IIHF in the mistaken belief that it was not the game stick.

The IIHF helped locate the stick and provided photographs to Crosby, who confirmed that it was the one he used to score on U.S. goalie Ryan Miller.

The missing glove was discovered by Team Canada teammate Patrice Bergeron. The players sat beside each other in the dressing room and one of Crosby's gloves was inadvertently placed in the Boston Bruin player's equipment bag.

Hockey Canada executive Scott Salmond led the search for the equipment.

"With everyone's co-operation, we were able to locate these items and are pleased to be able to return the stick and glove to its rightful owner," Salmond said.

Hockey Canada said the items were en route to Crosby. There was no immediate word on his plans for the equipment.

After the gear went missing, an investigation was launched and Reebok put up a $10,000 reward for the stick.

"I told Patrice that we should split it," Salmond said, joking.

Reebok issued a brief statement saying "details of the reward distribution" will be announced Thursday.

This isn't the first time some of Crosby's gear has vanished.

In 2005, his jersey went missing after Canada's gold medal win over Russia at the world junior hockey championship in Grand Forks, N.D.

It was found in a mailbox outside a post office in Lachute, Quebec.

Also Wednesday, Crosby announced he was donating the $20,000 Olympic medal bonus to his foundation, which provides financial help to local charities in Nova Scotia.

Bell Canada is matching Crosby's donation.