Lemieux, Mario

Lemieux, Mario ləmyöˈ [key], 1965–, Canadian ice hockey player, b. Montreal. A star for the Pittsburgh Penguins, he was the team's first pick in the 1984 National Hockey League (NHL) draft and was Rookie of the Year. He led the Penguins to their first Stanley Cups in 1991 and 1992. Plagued by back injuries, he was also diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease in 1993. After treatment, he played during 1993–94, took 1994–95 off, and returned for the 1995–97 seasons. In 1997 he retired and was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame. Lemieux headed an investment group that bought the Penguins in 1999, and he returned to play in 2000, scoring 35 goals as he led his team to the playoffs. He retired for good in 2006, with a total of 690 goals, 1,033 assists, and 1,723 points. He led the league in scoring for six seasons and was named most valuable player three times (1988, 1993, 1996).

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