Sidney Crosby was not arrested in Ottawa

Sidney Crosby has not been arrested, despite what a report that was published early Wednesday morning may have made you believe. The report from QMI Agency, which was featured in the Ottawa Sun but has since been deleted, read as follows:

Pittsburgh Penguins centre Sidney Crosby was arrested by Ottawa Police late Tuesday while driving a rented Porsche, sources have told QMI Agency.

Reasons of his arrest were unknown, but appear to be driving related.

Sources say Crosby was taken to the Ottawa police headquarters on Elgin street for fingerprinting and a mugshot. It is unknown at this time why the NHL star was in Ottawa.

Ottawa Police have been unable to be reached for comment.

Crosby is the captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins and one of the faces of the NHL. To our knowledge, he has never gotten into any type of serious trouble off the ice. And, wouldn’t you know it, his record remains clean.

“It never happened,” the Ottawa police duty desk told The Canadian Press when contacted about the arrest report.

Ottawa police chief Charles Bordeleau confirmed on Twitter that Crosby was not arrested:

We have had no dealings with Mr. Crosby. @ottawasuncom

— Charles Bordeleau (@ChiefBordeleau) September 3, 2014

Not only was Crosby not arrested, but the Penguins say he is not even in Canada this week.

“The Pittsburgh Penguins have spoken to Sidney Crosby,” the team said in a statement on Wednesday. “He is not in Canada, and was not in Canada yesterday. He is continuing his training in preparation for training camp.”

QMI later released a statement saying there was “no basis” for the original story and that the agency regrets the reporting. Penguins fans can breathe a sigh of relief.

H/T Puck Daddy