Mario Lemieux Celebrated at 4 Nations Face-Off in Montreal
Mario Lemieux was celebrated by fans in Montreal at the 4 Nations Face-Off, marking a festive return to international hockey alongside other legends.
With far too many years without best-on-best hockey, it only makes sense that the sport's heroes would be welcomed by the sound of roaring fans desperate for the international game's return.
Such was the case for legend-of-the-game Mario Lemieux, who was introduced to the Montreal crowd to signal the start of the 4 Nations Face-Off festivities on Wednesday night.
Lemieux, a Montreal native, walked out to the sound of "Mario! Mario! Mario!" chants, waving to a crowd that couldn't help but get to their feet.
Following his walk-up, he gestured to fellow Penguins legend and Canadian captain Sidney Crosby as the two posed for a photo ahead of puck drop.
It wasn't only the Canadians who got to take part in the celebration of past and present, as Finnish legend Teemu Selanne, Swedish superstar Daniel Alfredsson and heroic American goaltender Mike Richter all were introduced alongside their respective nations' captains.
Lemieux has a storied history representing the red and white in best-on-best hockey, most famously teaming up with Gretzky on the game-winning goal against the Soviet Union at the 1987 Canada Cup. Lemieux was also captain for Canada at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics, helping end a 50-year gold medal drought.
Before the game, Lemieux made a surprise appearance in Canada's locker room to reveal the team's starting lineup.
