Reeboks says tipline and reward are paying dividends in search for missing Crosby gear

Canada's Sidney Crosby (87) is congratulated by Drew Doughty (8) and Scott Niedermayer (27) after Crosby scored the game-winning goal in the overtime period of a men's gold medal ice hockey game against USA at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Feb. 28, 2010. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS/Chris O'Me

TORONTO - Reebok says its tipline and $10,000 reward for Sidney Crosby's missing Olympic glove and stick are already paying dividends.

Len Rhodes, vice-president and general manager for Reebok Hockey CCM, says the tipline is producing everything from encouraging comments to claims of "potential information."

"We'll be working with the appropriate authorities," he added Monday. "Because our business is hockey and we're putting the reward out there to encourage people to come forward, so that we can ultimately get the stick back into Sidney's hand."

Crosby used the stick - a Reebok 10K Sickick II model that retails for $249 - and glove to score the overtime goal that decided the Olympic hockey final with the U.S. on Feb. 28 in Vancouver.

The equipment disappeared after Crosby threw aside his stick and ripped off his gloves to celebrate Canada's Olympic victory.

Hockey Canada has said all of the equipment from the game was collected and was being put into the players' bags when it was noticed Crosby's stick and glove were missing.

The organization is trying to figure out what happened and security officers are reviewing video that shows people leaving the rink with sticks.

A Hockey Canada spokesman said there was nothing new yet as of Monday afternoon.

As for Crosby himself, Rhodes said the Pittsburgh Penguins captain "is focused on playing the game of hockey . . . That's the beauty of Sidney."

The Reebok tipline email is reeward87(at)reebokccm.com. There is also information at www.Reebokhockey.com.

"He made the shot. The stick disappeared," says the Reebok website.

"Help Sidney recover his missing stick and glove. Reebok Hockey is posting a $10,000 reward to the person who comes through with the successful tip."

The website notes that the reward will not go to anyone connected with the theft and that information will be shared with "all appropriate authorities."

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

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

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