PITTSBURGH -- Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby carried the Olympic torch in his hometown of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Wednesday.

Crosby carried the torch for about 300 meters. Thousands of hockey fans cheered as he passed by.

The Penguins star was selected not only because of his outstanding achievements in hockey but because of his commitment to his home city, province and country.

"It's just a huge privilege and honor to do that. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so many people would dream to be able to do that so to be able to do it and do it in my hometown, that's pretty special," Crosby told Channel 11 News.

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The torch was lit in Greece on Oct. 22 and arrived in British Columbia on Oct. 30 to begin its 106-day journey across the country.

More than 12,000 torch bearers will race the Olympic flame across the country before the 2010 Games in Vancouver in February.

Earlier this year on his 22nd birthday, Crosby was lowered from a military helicopter down to the flight deck of HMCS Preserver to showcase the Stanley Cup in Halifax.

The Penguins captured the Stanley Cup by defeating the Detroit Red Wings in seven games, making Crosby the youngest captain to ever lead his team to the championship.

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