Saturday, February 4, 2012

Today in Sports History: Super Mario


February 4th, 1997

Mario Lemieux first skated on National Hockey league ice October 11, 1984.  It was the first game of a new season, and the first game of what would become a brilliant career.  He had been taken as the number one overall pick by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 1984 June Draft, and the Montreal native had just celebrated his 19th birthday less than a week earlier.  In sports, there are a lot of “can’t miss” misses.  Look ‘em up.  But not this one. 

The Pittsburgh Penguins traveled to historic Boston Garden for the opener of the 1984-85 season, and it didn’t take long for head coach Bob Berry, his teammates, and many others to know that they were watching history being born.  On his first shift, the young budding star took the puck right off the stick of future Hall of Fame defenseman Ray Bourque of the Bruins.  He blazed effortlessly up the left wing with no one in his way.  He dodged a sliding Bruin, who was trying to break up the play.  As a matter of record, Peter Peeters (Yes, that was his name) was between the pipes for the home team.  Lemieux went to his left and slid the puck past Peeters for a goal on his first NHL shot.  In celebration, Lemieux jumped up and down behind the net and received the puck from a teammate for a keepsake.  The Bruins were victorious, however, that night 4-3.  Two nights later, the Penguins would lose again on the road, this time in Lemieux’s hometown of Montreal, by the same 4-3 score.

Fast-forward 4,499 days.  Since his debut, Lemieux rewrote records, won awards, 2 Stanley Cups, and even an Olympic gold medal.  It is February 4th, 1997.  This time, the game is at home for Lemieux and the Penguins.  The opponent is the Canucks from Vancouver.  The Penguins are handling the Canucks, leading 5-4 late in the game.  Lemieux receives a pass on the left side as he crosses the Canucks’ blue line.  This time, there is no goalie blocking shots as Vancouver had pulled their goalie.  Lemieux got a shot off from the top of the left faceoff circle, and the puck landed safely in the opposing cage.  Lemieux would end up with 690 pucks to his credit. 

Goal number 600 for Super Mario came on this day in 1997. 

No comments: