Crosby sticks up for Canada's Comtois: Penalty shot won't define him

Sidney Crosby has got Maxime Comtois' back.

The Pittsburgh Penguins superstar stood up for the forward, who was denied on a penalty shot in overtime during Canada's quarterfinal loss to Finland at the World Junior Championship and subsequently cyberbullied.

"I feel bad," Crosby said Friday, according to TSN. "That's immediately what I thought of when I saw the penalty shot and just the amount of pressure that's on a young kid. It's too bad that people have to react that way and with social media, it kind of gives them that opportunity."

Crosby offered some words of wisdom to Comtois - namely, not to fixate on it.

"My advice to him would be just to ignore it. He's a great player and he's going to have a great career and that's not going to define who he is - that penalty shot. The real fans and the people that are behind you, I think everybody is there to support him. Anything can happen in hockey and in a quarterfinal game like that. You see the stick break - it's one of those things."

He also had a message for anyone who was quick to criticize the Anaheim Ducks prospect.

"It's easy to be a good fan when you're winning, but it's a little tougher when you lose and I think everyone should keep that in mind," Crosby said.

The agency that represents Comtois, Roy Sports Group, said in a statement Thursday: "It is shameful and incomprehensible that a few cowards who can hide behind social media could make such vicious attacks on these young men's character after they have battled their hearts out for their country."