Thursday, May 5, 2005 | By Philip Croucher, Halifax Daily News

RIMOUSKI, Que. - As hard as this may be to fathom, there is something that Sidney Crosby still struggles with in the game of hockey - a decent playoff beard.

"It's hard for me," smiled the 17-year-old Rimouski Oceanic forward, sporting just-dark whiskers above his top lip and around his chin. "I'm checking in the mirror every day to see whats coming there."

The smile through his beard, or lack thereof, was one of several the Cole Harbour hockey phenom flashed during and after the Oceanic's 60-minute practice session yesterday morning at Le Colisee in Rimouski.

But why shouldn't Crosby be smiling?

The country's most talked about junior player is getting set to compete in his first, and probably only, Quebec Major Junior Hockey League final against an opponent, the Halifax Mooseheads, that he grew up watching.

The much-anticipated best-of-seven final kicks off tonight in Rimouski at 8:30 p.m., with the series winner advancing to the Memorial Cup in London, Ont., in two weeks.

"Growing up watching them, you never would have thought that one day you'd be playing in the league final against them. It's something you can't really believe, but you know it starts here (tonight)," said Crosby, answering questions on the players' bench while sporting a Quebec Nordiques baseball cap pulled on backwards.

"I'm excited, but I don't think it really mattered who it would be against. You have to be motivated to play in a league championship."

The last time Crosby played in front of his hometown fans in Halifax, he received three standing ovations, the last of which came after being named the game's first star.

Crosby finished with six points in Rimouski's 8-4 win over Halifax on that Jan. 15 game at Metro Centre, a contest many felt could be his last in the city.

"I don't expect that this time," smirked Crosby of the standing O's. "But it's the top two teams. We have a good opportunity. They have a good opportunity. It's going to be good hockey. They've been close games all throughout the year.

"But to go back there is going to be kind of special, but at the same time I don't expect to hear anything too good. It's playoff time there as well as here."

Crosby, who is expected to play pro next season, appears to be going into the final with his A game.

He has nine goals and 13 assists in the post-season and, in his last playoff game six days ago, enjoyed a four-goal performance as Rimouski beat Chicoutimi Sagueneens 5-1 to earn a spot in the final.

"I have high expectations of myself," he said. "But at the same time, you have to realize it's tight, and games are going to be 2-1, 3-1. You have to go in expecting to win 1-0."