Sidney Crosby.

THE CANADIAN PRESS

Reebok is taking the $10,000 reward posted for Sidney Crosby's missing Olympic gear and sweetening it to make three charitable donations.

The reward went unclaimed since Hockey Canada found the glove and stick had been misplaced rather than stolen.

But Reebok, which sponsors No. 87, is paying up anyway with separate $8,700 donations to the Hockey Canada Foundation, USA Hockey's "Come Play Youth Hockey" program and the Sidney Crosby Foundation.

"We think these donations are a great way to help grow the sport and get more kids to play," Len Rhodes, vice-president and general manager of Reebok-CCM Hockey, said in a statement Thursday. "Who knows, maybe the next Sidney Crosby will have the chance to play with our support."

Said Crosby: "The sport of hockey has been a major part of my life, and I hope more kids have the chance to experience all the joy the game has given me."

Crosby's stick was located in Toronto as part of a shipment heading to the International Ice Hockey Federation. It had been sent in the mistaken belief that it was not the game stick used in the Olympic final.

The missing glove was discovered by Team Canada teammate Patrice Bergeron. The players sat beside each other in the dressing room and one of Crosby's gloves was inadvertently placed in Bergeron's equipment bag.

Crosby used both pieces of equipment to score the winning goal over the U.S. in overtime Feb. 28.