Archive: The Mario Lemieux Frenzy Kicked Off In The NHL 40 Years In the past

Forty years in the past, NHL icon Mario Lemieux performed his first hockey on the NHL stage.

In this cover story from The Hockey News’ Nov. 2, 1984, edition (Volume 38, Issue 6), contributing author Dave Molinari chronicled Lemieux’s first week of NHL motion.

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Considered one of Lemieux’s first opponents was the Montreal Canadiens – and Lemieux was uncertain concerning the reception he’d get when taking part in in his dwelling province of Quebec. However whereas his Pittsburgh Penguins didn’t play nicely in opposition to the Habs, Lemieux carried out about in addition to may very well be anticipated beneath the circumstances, even when he was essential of his efficiency.

“There was a whole lot of strain as a result of all of my household was there and the general public have been there to look at me,” Lemieux informed Molinari. ”It was robust as a result of the workforce didn’t play nicely, so it was robust for me to play nicely.”

Issues obtained higher for Lemieux within the Pens’ home-opener in opposition to the Vancouver Canucks. Lemieux put up a terrific feed on teammate Doug Shedden’s opening objective. And though Canucks coach Invoice LaForge wasn’t overly complimentary towards Lemieux, he acknowledged Lemieux was a particular athlete.

“He made an important move on the opening objective, however he didn’t do a lot else,” LaForge mentioned. “To inform the reality, he’s going to be an important participant, but it surely takes time.”

MARIO LEMIEUX’S FIRST-WEEK STATISTICS SPEAK MUCH LOUDER THAN ANY WORDS

Vol. 38, No. 6, Nov. 2, 1984

By Dave Molinari

Devotees of the sport converse of the tough realities of adjusting to life within the Nationwide Hockey League, of the toll extracted by intensive journey and of the pains of usually competing in opposition to among the best gamers on the planet.

All of that, they insist, makes the transition from junior to skilled a tough proposition for even essentially the most proficient teenager.

And so it was for Mario Lemieux, the person charged with revitalizing the stagnant Pittsburgh Penguin franchise. Lemieux, in reality, confirmed completely no indicators of seizing the NHL by the throat till nicely over a minute into his first skilled shift.

Penguin officers valiantly struggled to cover their disappointment. After watching Lemieux’s first sport, for instance, normal supervisor Eddie Johnston bravely sported a smile that may have resisted the best efforts of any sandblaster.

Lemieux’s efficiency in his first week earned combined critiques from opponents and the sporting press. Boston goalie Pete Peeters, for instance, dismissed Lemieux with a easy “he’ll be superior.” The Boston Globe wrote him off as simply one other “rookie of the millennium.”

However essentially the most correct portrait of Lemieux’s first week could be gained from numbers, not these non-commital phrases. In his first three video games with the Penguins, Lemieux had one objective and three assists, participating in practically half the workforce’s 10 targets.

And there’s one different determine of word, 15,741. That’s the variety of followers Lemieux interested in the Penguin’s home-opener on the Civic Area, the place a median of 6,839 selected to whereas away their evenings final winter.

And so it was, by all accounts, per week to recollect.

OCT. 11

Lemieux is perched on a stool on the counter of a Boston lodge espresso store that may be a monument to glass-and-brass extra. His fork is poised for what will likely be an unsuccessful offense in opposition to a stack of pancakes, however his ideas have drifted forward 10 hours to the beginning of his first NHL sport.

“It’s not going to be simple in opposition to the Bruins,” he mentioned softly. “However sure, I’m prepared.”

Lower than three minutes into the primary interval, he confirmed simply how prepared he was and the way simple he may make it look. The Bruins, consistent with custom, have been swarming within the Penguins’ finish, and all-star defenseman Ray Bourque was holding the puck and directing the play from the precise level.

Seconds later, he was watching Lemieux bolt by way of heart ice on an unimpeded path to his first skilled objective.

“I attempted to move the puck between his stick and his skate,” Bourque would say later, “it hit his skate and he was simply gone.”

There remained the small matter of Peeters, however Lemieux resolved that with a transfer that left Peeters someplace close to Causeway Avenue.

“I simply stood there, compelled him to make a transfer,” Peeters mentioned. “And he made his transfer.”

Nonetheless, regardless of two targets from Warren Younger and an help by Lemieux, the Penguins have been unable to carry a 3-1 lead and misplaced 4-3. No matter pleasure Lemieux derived from his two-point debut was tempered by the defeat.

“All factor (thought of), I’m completely happy,” he mentioned. “However it could have been higher if we had gained the sport.”

OCT. 12

After the sport in Boston Backyard, Lemieux spoke of the strain inherent in being the publicly proclaimed savior of the franchise and the way that burden had been eased by the passage of his first sport.

However throughout a day exercise on the Montreal Discussion board, it was apparent the strain could be renewed — if not intensified — for his first skilled sport earlier than the hometown followers, a throng that would come with about 70 family and friends members.

After the observe, Lemieux was besieged by the Montreal media, and confronted by dozens of questions in two languages. His return had not gone unnoticed.

Nonetheless, he mentioned, it was nice to be dwelling to spend an evening together with his household for the primary time in a month, and to be on the verge of realizing a dream that went again to his early life in Ville Emard.

“It’s at all times been my dream to play for the Canadiens — or in opposition to them — so I’m trying ahead to taking part in,” he mentioned.

OCT. 13

A complete of 15,691 followers made their option to the Discussion board on this evening and totally one-quarter have been moved to accord Lemieux a standing ovation in the course of the pre-game introductions.

“I didn’t know what to anticipate,” Lemieux mentioned. “I didn’t know in the event that they have been going to boo me or cheer for me.”

However those that had come to cheer Lemieux in the course of the sport, or to witness a repeat of Lemieux’s record-setting exploits with the Laval Voisins, would go away disenchanted. Montreal heart Man Carbonneau and linemates Bob Gainey and Chris Nilan would maintain Lemieux to 2 of the Penguins’ 12 photographs, and Lemieux managed only one help in a 4-3 loss.

“There was a whole lot of strain as a result of all of my household was there and the general public have been there to look at me,” Lemieux mentioned.”It was robust as a result of the workforce didn’t play nicely, so it was robust for me to play nicely.”

OCT. 14

Only one evening after he had found the pains of taking part in in opposition to one of many league’s prime defensive facilities, Lemieux realized of the hazards dealing with any NHL rookie, even the type who solely come alongside “as soon as in a millennium.”

Through the flight from Montreal to Pittsburgh, a teammate deftly used a folded plastic card to use a number of mounds of shaving cream to the entrance of Lemieux’s omnipresent cap. He then planted a cigarette which stood, candle-like, for a number of minutes earlier than Lemieux woke up and realized sleeping on the airplane is each bit as dangerous as speeding up the ice together with your head down.

OCT. 15

Lemieux makes his first-ever look on the ice on the Civic Area earlier than a largely unimpressed horde of employees getting ready the constructing for the home-opener. It’s the first Area observe for the Penguins, who educated at close by Mt. Lebanon.

OCT. 16

That long-awaited home-opener — billed for months because the Lemieux Debut — is however a time without work and Lemieux is peering down the barrel of a fill-in-the-blanks query that has shadowed him since even earlier than the June 9 entry draft.

“Do you are feeling strain (fill within the applicable particulars)?” On this case, it’s taking part in earlier than the Pittsburgh followers for the primary time.

“I’m probably not nervous,” he mentioned. “Everyone’s going to be pumped up and we’re going to work onerous for the folks of Pittsburgh.”

OCT. 17

Lemieux is launched to the close to capability crowd and is greeted by the form of reception often reserved for warfare heroes and returning astronauts. The followers then settle right down to the enterprise of pulling off the proper wave, leaving it to Lemieux to make the splash.

It didn’t take lengthy. Simply 18 seconds into the sport, Lemieux reduce previous Vancouver defenseman Doug Hal ward outdoors the Canucks blue line, cruised down the left-wing boards and threw a picturesque move to proper winger Doug Shedden, who was chopping down the slot.

The Penguins had a 1-0 lead and their followers had a long-awaited trigger for celebration.

Minutes later, he would pummel Vancouver’s Gary Lupul after receiving what Lemieux mentioned was his second spearing of the interval. The bond between Lemieux and the Pittsburgh followers was accomplished, sealed with a chant of MAR-EEE-O.

That Lemieux would play an insignificant position the remainder of the way in which in what proved to be a 4-3 Pittsburgh victory hardly mattered to the gang, however didn’t escape the eye of Vancouver coach Invoice LaForge.

“He made an important move on the opening objective, however he didn’t do a lot else,” LaForge mentioned. “To inform the reality, he’s going to be an important participant, but it surely takes time.”

Based mostly upon what they noticed in his first three video games, the Penguins will give Lemieux no matter time he wants. They might not object within the least have been he to proceed making an attempt to good his craft for one more, say, 15 years.

That’s the solely prudent method as a result of, Johnston mentioned, “He’s going to be an important participant on this league for a very long time.”

And this was solely the start.

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