Mario Lemieux

Born: October 5, 1965
Place of Birth: Montreal, Quebec

• Mario Lemieux is probably the greatest all-around player in the history of hockey.

• He grew up idolizing his home team, the Montreal Canadians, and their many all-stars.

• His parents were very supportive of his chosen career: hockey.

• Lemieux was an outstanding player at the junior level establishing scoring records in the QMJHL.

• He was the first pick in the 1984 hockey draft being selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates.

• In his first NHL season, scoring 100 points, he was voted the Rookie of the Year

• He led his team to two Stanley Cup victories in 1991 and 1992, being chosen the Most Valuable Player in the playoffs both seasons.

• In 1993, it was discovered that he had a curable form of Hodgkin's disease.

• He immediately underwent radiation treatments to rid himself of this cancer.

• Lemieux returned before the season was over and scored 56 points in the remaining 20 games.

• He set up the Mario Lemieux Foundation to help fund medical research projects.

• Lemieux has won the Hart Trophy for the league's MVP on three occasions.

• After he retired in 1997, he led a group to purchase the Pittsburgh Pirates as the team was experiencing financial problems.

• He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame shortly after his retirement.

• Lemieux came out of retirement in 2000 and as an active player is still one of the highest point-getters in the league.

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Last Updated: April 22, 2008
© Canada-Heros/Don Jones 2003