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Mario Lemieux |
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Born: October 5, 1965 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Mario Lemieux was a world class player in every one of his international appearances. It started at the 1983 IIHF World U20 Championship where he had 10 points in seven games. As a 19-year-old, he scored another 10 points in as many games at the 1985 World Championship, leading Canada to their first win over the Soviet Union in 24 years. At the 1987 Canada Cup, he amassed an unbeatable 18 points in nine games and was during that period considered as the best offensive force in all of hockey. The one-two punch with Wayne Gretzky at that tournament reached mythological proportions.
As a 37-year-old, Lemieux won the Olympic gold medal in 2002, leading Canada to its first Olympic hockey gold in 50 years. He had six points in five games as team captain of Canada. He closed his international career by winning the 2004 World Cup of Hockey, captaining by example with five points in six games.
Along the way, Mario Lemieux captured the hearts of most ice hockey fans around the world. He scored over 1700 points as a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins and won two Stanley Cups, six NHL scoring titles, three Hart Trophies as leagues MVP, a four time MVP voted by the players, two playoff MVP trophies, he was voted Rookie of the Year in his first year in the NHL among many other awards during his years with the Penguins.
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