Mario Lemieux Biography

Mario Lemieux is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He played with the National Hockey League's (NHL) Pittsburgh Penguins between 1984 and 2006 with breaks in-between. He bought the Penguins out of bankruptcy, and is currently the team's principal owner and chairman. He is widely acknowledged to be one of the best players of all time. He was gifted in all departments of the game including, playmaking, scoring, puck-handling, and backed these with intangible skills such as, imagination and anticipation. He led Pittsburgh to two consecutive Stanley Cups and a third under his ownership. He also led Team Canada to an Olympic gold medal, a championship win at the World Cup of Hockey, and a Canada Cup. At the time of his retirement, he was the NHL's seventh-ranked all-time scorer with 690 goals and 1,033 assists, at an incredible 0.754 goals-per game average. Lemieux’s career was plagued by health problems including spinal disc herniation and Hodgkin's lymphoma that limited him to 915 of a possible 1,428 NHL games forcing him to retire twice in his career. He was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame and The Hockey Hall of Fame. His career is not just about records but of dedication and determination in the face of severe health issues.