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
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.
We feel that, with Sidney, we have a great opportunity over the next few years to put a great team on the ice. We're prepared to lose some money along the way. Eventually we're going to need some help.
This is really a new NHL and it's built on speed and young guys.
I think we need to do as much as we can to give back to these young kids growing up. I think we've done a pretty decent job so far.
When I bought the team in 1999, my goal was to keep the team here forever and that's not going change. Now, it's up to the gaming board, local politicians and local leaders to support our plan, which is by far the best one out there from what I have seen. Hopefully, we can get it done.
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.
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 know he was nervous a little bit, but he played really well, ... He had some breakaways and fought along the boards. He made some good plays and got to the net. He's good on his skates and strong.
He's only 4 years old, so I don't think he realized, you know, that I played so many years. Of course, we watch tapes here from the Stanley Cup years, but I don't think he realized how many years I played.
Well, I think just a desire to come back and be a part of the game again.
As I've said, in 2007, we're free to go and we'll just have to do what's best for the business.
Depending on how we start the season, I can play center or wing... It doesn't matter to me.