Sidney Crosby.

THE CANADIAN PRESS

TORONTO -- Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby is the winner of the 2009 Lou Marsh Award.

The honour -- decided by a panel of sports editors, reporters and broadcasters -- is given annually to Canada's outstanding athlete by the Toronto Star.

The superstar forward led his team to the Stanley Cup in June.

The 22-year-old native of Cole Harbour, N.S., recorded 33 goals and 70 assists last season and added 15 goals and 16 assists in the playoffs. He's currently fourth in league scoring with 38 points this season.

Other finalists were downhill world champion John Kucera, NBA star Steve Nash, doubles tennis player Daniel Nestor, speedskater Christine Nesbitt and mixed martial arts fighter Georges St-Pierre.

Crosby also won the Lou Marsh in 2007.

The panel featured representatives from the Toronto Star, CBC, The Fan 590, Globe and Mail, National Post, Rogers Sportsnet, TSN, Toronto Sun and The Canadian Press. Lou Marsh is a former Toronto Star sports editor.