Mario Lemieux with Team Canada

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Early in his career. Mario refused to play for the Canadian junior national team in Sweden. He wanted to spend some time with his family and he had an unhappy experience the year before in international tournaments. The powers that be were outraged at Mario's refusal to join the Team. They tried to force him to go by issuing a suspension to anyone who would not go. Newspapers started to call him ungrateful and unpatriotic. He took the Quebec league to court to prevent the suspension from taking effect. The judge ruled in Mario's favor saying he had no obligation to play for Team Canada.

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Mario played for Canada in the 1983 World Junior Championships where he won a bronze medal.

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Mario also played for Canada in the 1985 World Championships where he won a silver medal.

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Mario declined an offer to play in the 1987 World Championships which once again provoked the ire of the hockey establishment.

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Mario played in the 1987 Canada Cup a pre-season tournament that featured the national teams of Canada and United States as well as the top European hockey powers. Team Canada needed a win to reach the three-game final series against the USSR, it was a two-goal, three-point effort by Mario that sparked them to a 5-3 triumph over the USSR. Although Mario posted two assists in Game One of the Canada Cup finals Canada lost 6-5 in overtime. For most of the games Team Canada coach Mike Keenan, had played Mario Lemieux and Wayne Gretzky on separate lines. But after losing he put them on the same line. With Mario and Gretzky on the same line Mario racked up the final three goals to win and even up the series 1-1. The Dynamic Duo also teamed up in the decisive third game as Mario converted a Gretzky pass into the goal that lifted Team Canada to another 6-5 win and the Canada Cup Championship.

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Mario was announced Team Capitan of Canada's Men's Olympic Hockey Team. During the Olympics Mario played 5 games. He got 2 goals and 4 assists. Mario led Canada to the Gold Medal Game against the United States. Canada would go on to win the Gold Medal with the help of Mario.

Mario

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World Cup Of Hockey 2004

Mario would be named Team Captain for Team Canada. Canada would go 6-0 and win the championship with the help of Mario. Mario would finish the tournment with 6 games played 1 goal and 4 assists.

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Mario withdrew his name from consideration for the Torino Olympics, citing health problems.