Super Mario to Hall of Fame

Lemieux became the ninth player inducted into the Hall of Fame without having to wait the mandatory three years after retirement. And rightfully so.

He personally rescued hockey in Pittsburgh as he led the Penguins to two consecutive Stanley Cups in 1991 and 1992.

Despite having to overcome Hodgkin's disease and a debilitating back injury, Lemieux was a three-time winner of the Hart Trophy as the league's Most Valuable Player and a six-time winner of the Art Ross Trophy as the top scorer.

Without his injuries and countless missed games Lemieux could have challenged Wayne Gretzky as the greatest hockey player ever.

Joining Lemieux at the induction ceremonies were Glen Sather, the architect of the Edmonton Oilers' dynasty; Bryan Trottier, who led the New York Islanders' dynasty of the 1980s; longtime Philadelphia Flyers broadcaster Gene Hart; and Hockey News founder Ken McKenzie.

The following night in Pittsburgh, Lemieux's No. 66 jersey was officially retired in an elaborate pre-game ceremony, before Penguins and the Boston Bruins skated to a 3-3 tie.

Mario Lemieux's career:

Regular season 12 years				Playoffs 7 years
GP	G	A	Pts	GP	G	A	Pts
745	613	881	1494	89	70	85	155