Mario Lemieux Essay Research Paper Rob FarrowResearch

Mario Lemieux Essay, Research Paper

Rob Farrow

Research Paper

Dec. 5, 2000

Mario Lemieux was one of the best hockey players to ever play the game, if not the best. He started playing organized hockey at the age of five. By the time he was twelve years old, he was drawing standing room only crowds while playing for Ville Emard. Lemieux would go on to rewrite the record books for the Laval Voisins of the Quebec Major Junior hockey league. In 1984 Lemieux was taken first overall in the NHL entry draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins. During his fourteen-year career, Lemieux had many triumphs and adversities. Lemieux over came a bout with cancer and years of nagging back problems, to become one of the greatest hockey players over. He also saved the team from leaving the city due to bankruptcy in 1997. Lemieux is not only one of the greatest hockey players ever, he is also the savior of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Lemieux was born and raised in Montreal Quebec. In Canada hockey is just not a sport, but a way of life. When Lemieux was five years old his mother took him to the rink just minutes from his house. This is where he learned how to skate. Lemieux.s mother remembers the first time he stepped on the ice. .When he stepped on the ice for the first time, he used a chair to balance himself. He used the chair for ten minutes; after that he skated without the chair.. (Lemieux 13.) While the other kids where using the chairs to skate, Lemieux was skating without the aid of a chair. Perhaps it was a sign of greatness. Lemieux began to play organized hockey at the age of six. When Lemieux wasn.t playing organized hockey he was playing against his two older bothers and the neighborhood kids at the rink near his house. Lemieux went through a daily rititual of .playing hockey for four to five hours a day, then he would go home and do homework.. (Lemieux 14.) They say practice makes perfect, you would have to believe its true in Lemieux.s case.

In 1981, Lemieux was drafted by the Lavel Voisins of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. By the end of his first year Lemieux posted 30 goals and 66 assists, in 64 games. Those where some pretty impressive numbers for a young seventeen year old, who was playing against kids in there twenties. During Lemieux.s second season of juniors he was quickly becoming one of the top prospects in the world. Lemieux began to draw scouts from every NHL team and standing room only crowds every time he stepped on the ice. At the end of his second year of juniors, Lemieux racked up 184 points to lead the league. In his final year of juniors Lemieux was on pace to rewrite the record books. .In his last game of the season Lemieux needed 3 goals to pass his idol Guy Lafluer.s all time record for goals. He got six goals and five assists.. (Lemieux 38.) This record was a huge accomplishment for Lemieux. He finished the season with 133 goals and 282 points to lead the league for the second consecutive time. The next step for Lemieux was the National Hockey League.

In 1984 Lemieux was ranked as the top prospect by the NHL central scouting bureau. It would surprise nobody when the Pittsburgh Penguins took Lemieux with the first overall pick in the NHL entry draft. .In Lemieux.s first game, his first shift, first shot, he got his first goal in the NHL. He beat Pete Peters of the Boston Bruins on a breakaway. (Lemieux 42.) It did not take long at all for Lemieux to live up to all the hype. On the play he scored his first goal he beat two all stars, first he stole the puck from Ray Bourque and then put the puck behind Pete Peters. Lemieux was named to the NHL.s midseason all-star game. He captured the MVP honors of the game by netting two goals, including the game winner. By the end of the season Lemieux won the Calder Trophy as the rookie of the year. He finished the season with .43 goals and reached the 100-point mark on the final day of the season, only two players have ever got over 100 points in their first year.. (Lemieux 47.) Although Lemieux had a very successful year the Penguins continued to struggle. The Penguins finished dead last in their division. For the next two seasons Lemieux and the Penguins continued to get better game by game. Lemieux lead the team in scoring both years, but the Penguins still did not mange to make the playoffs.

In the summer of 1987 Lemieux played for team Canada, in the Canada Cup. This was an international tournament putting the best players in the world against each other. Team Canada made it to the finals after defeating the Czechosolokian team. In the finals Lemieux was on a line with Wayne Gretzky. Lemieux came up big for team Canada by scoring two consecutive game winning goals to defeat the Russians. Lemieux and Gretzky where unbelievable together. Lemieux lead the tournament with goals. Lemieux states .this is where I learned to take my game to another level.. (Lemieux 55.) He also learned how to become a champion. This experience gave Lemieux the confidence he needed to lead the Penguins to a championship. Shortly after the Canada Cup, the NHL season started. Lemieux picked up right where he left off. He won his first scoring title in the NHL. Lemieux also won the Hart Memorial Trophy, as the leagues MVP. This was not enough to put the Penguins into the playoffs. The Penguins fell one point shy of making the playoffs, on the final day of the season.

In tHe 1989-