Mario Lemieux
Mario Lemieux
Mario Lemieux, OC, CQis a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and current owner for the Pittsburgh Penguins. He played parts of 17 seasons with the National Hockey League'sPittsburgh Penguins between 1984 and 2006. Dubbed "The Magnificent One" or "Le Magnifique", he is widely acknowledged to be one of the best players of all time. A gifted playmaker and fast skater despite his large size, Lemieux often beat defencemen with fakes and dekes...
NationalityCanadian
ProfessionHockey Player
Date of Birth5 October 1965
CityMontreal, Canada
CountryCanada
I've had a chance to spend some time in L.A. with him, training and having dinners, and that's all he talks about, hockey, ... He knows the history of the game, loves to talk about the players and the teams. That's why I think he's going to be very successful, because he's dedicated his life to the game.
He was one of the best players out there, skating-wise and handling the puck.
Once I'm at the arena with the guys in the dressing room, and in the bus, and on the plane, I'm a player. And I sit in the back with the players and I play cards and try to take their money.
Everybody I talked to - from my friends to my family and some of the players - really gave me a lot of support from the start. And that certainly made me feel good about trying to come back and be one of the best again.
Since the beginning, I always loved the game. When you grow up in Montreal, one day you want to be a professional hockey player. When I was six or seven, I knew that was what I wanted.
All I can say to the young players is, enjoy every moment of it. Just enjoy every moment of it. Your career goes by very quickly.
For as long as I can remember I wanted to be a professional hockey player.
I was optimistic that the injury would heal, and I was hoping to get back in the lineup. It is disappointing that I won't have a chance to return to the ice this season, but I look forward to coming back next year.
I think so. He's a smart guy. He was able to adjust as a player, and I'm sure he can do the same as a coach.
I'm still optimistic this team will be here forever but, again, we need a new facility, ... I don't know how many times I need to say it, but this is the last time I'm going to.
We have a system, but guys aren't playing together and aren't all on the same page. We start playing when we're down two or three goals and you can't do that. That comes from not preparing mentally to play the game.
If we get a new arena, great. It's something we've been looking forward to for many years. And whether I'm part of it or not, that's something this franchise absolutely has to have.
It's up to the community now to decide if they want to keep this team.
This arena is a special place. Everybody loves it. To be able to stand behind the bench and be a part of a great tournament for the '96 Elite is fun. The kids, having a chance to play in the building where the Penguins play, it's a special feeling for them.