Mario Lemieux quick facts
- The most points Mario Lemieux ever scored in an NHL season was 199 in 1988-89.
- Mario's last professional hockey game was on December 16, 2005 vs. Buffalo Sabres. Mario added an assist, but the Pens lost 4-3 in OT.
- On June 17, 2009, Lemieux was given the honorable title Knight from Quebec Premier Jean Charest.
- Mario Lemieux has a considerable number of records, and stands in comparison along with Wayne Gretzky as one of the best NHL players of all time.
- At the April 2008 Dapper Dan Awards Banquet, Mario Lemieux was named Pittsburgh's all time greatest athlete, beating out sports luminaries like Roberto Clemente, Arnold Palmer and Terry Bradshaw.
- Popular nicknames for Lemieux include "Buries It", "Le Magnifique", "Super Mario" (in reference to the popular video game character), "The Magnificent (One)", and "The Comeback Kid".
- Mario Lemieux has stated that he doesn't want another retirement ceremony. His banner is supposed to be hanging at the Penguins '06 season opener.
- Lemieux was the first former player to own a professional sports team in the modern era.
- He has a tradition of opening his home to young Penguins stars such as Marc-André Fleury and Sidney Crosby until they settle into the Pittsburgh area, as he did with Jaromír Jágr following the 1990 NHL Draft when he lived in Mt. Lebanon.
- On December 31, 1988 - Mario became the first player in NHL history to score a goal five different ways (even strength, power play, short-handed, penalty shot, empty net) in one game in an 8-6 win vs. New Jersey.
- On March 30, 2007, Lemieux, a registered Republican, contributed $2,300 to Democratic U.S. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton's 2008 presidential campaign fund.
- On January 24, 2006 Mario Lemieux announced his retirement from the NHL because of heart problems.
- During the 1988-89 season he became only the forth player to score 50 goals in 50 games.
- Mario Lemieux has the same birthday as Kate Winslet, Bernie Mac and Clive Barker.
- Mario Lemieux is 6 feet, 4 inches (1.93 m) Tall.
- His surname, Lemieux, means "the best."
- Mario Lemieux and his wife Nathalie have four children- Alexa, Lauren, Austin and Stephanie.
- He scored his first goal in his first NHL game, on his first shift and on his first shot.
- Mario's jersey number 66 is retired even though he is still playing.
- Mario is a 6 time Art Ross Trophy winner.
- In 1997, Mario Lemieux was inducted into Hockey Hall of Fame.
- In 2007, Mario Lemieux along with Andre Agassi, Muhammad Ali, Lance Armstrong, Warrick Dunn, Mia Hamm, Jeff Gordon, Tony Hawk, Andrea Jaeger, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Alonzo Mourning and Cal Ripken Jr. founded Athletes for Hope, a charitable organization, which helps professional athletes get involved in charitable causes and inspires millions of non-athletes to volunteer and support the community.
- Mario became the first and only rookie to win the All-Star Game's MVP.
