Mario Lemieux today announced his retirement as a player, bringing an end to a spectacular career that already has landed him in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Lemieux finishes his career with 690 goals and 1,033 assists for 1,723 points in 915 games over 17 seasons - all with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He led the Penguins to two Stanley Cups and also won six NHL scoring titles, three MVP awards and two Conn Smythe Trophies as MVP of the playoffs. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1997.

Lemieux, 40, played 26 games with the Penguins this season, scoring seven goals and 15 assists for 22 points. He played for the last time on December 16 vs. Buffalo at Mellon Arena, recording one assist.

"The time is right because I can no longer play the game at the level I'm accustomed to," Lemieux said in making the announcement. "I think the best decision is to retire as a player and turn the game over to the younger guys who are the future of this team and this league. It's a young man's game now.

"I have so many great memories, especially the Stanley Cups, and I want to thank the fans in Pittsburgh - and hockey fans everywhere - for the support they've given to me and my family over the years. It's been an unbelievable ride. And I really do believe this team has a great future here in Pittsburgh. I'm looking forward to watching these young players grow and develop into a championship team." More>>>


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