Retirement

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Mario retires for the first time

On April 6, 1997, Mario announced he will retire following the playoffs. On April 26, 1997, Mario had a goal and an assist in his final NHL game as Pittsburgh lost 6-3 to Philadelphia and was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs in five games. Mario left the ice in tears at age 32. Mario Lemieux was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame on November 17, 1997. The three- year waiting period to get into the Hall of Fame was lifted only for Mario since he did so much for the game. Two days later on November 19, 1997 Mario Lemieux had his number 66 retired and hung from the roof.

Mario retires for the last time.

January 24,2006 "I feel the time has come. It is in the best interest of myself, my family and the Pittsburgh Penguins." Mario Lemieux stated at a press conference announcing his retirement from hockey again. Lemieux, 40, listed health, family and an inability to play at an elite level as his reasons for retiring. Lemieux, one of the most gifted players in hockey history, had been sidelined for more than a month with atrial fibrillation, an irregular heartbeat that can be treated with medication.

He finished with 22 points in 26 games, but an uncharacteristic minus-16 rating.

"The new NHL is for the young guys," Lemieux said. "We have some young guys dominating it and a few here in Pittsburgh. "They are the future of the NHL. And I look forward to watching them play."

Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1997, he ranks seventh all-time with 690 goals and 1,033 assists for 1,723 points in 915 NHL games. Lemieux also won six NHL scoring titles, was named the league's most valuable player three times and captured two Conn Smythe trophies as playoff MVP. "I've done pretty much everything I set out to do," he said. "Winning two Stanley Cups allows me to leave the game in peace."

Lemieux captained Team Canada to a gold medal at the 2002 Salt Lake Olympic Winter Games, then again at the 2004 World Cup of Hockey. But he withdrew his name from consideration for the Torino Olympics, citing health problems.