Hockey has been a part of Mario Lemieux’s life since his childhood. At the age of six he was holding his own against boys four years older; by the time he was sixteen, he had captured the attention of the National Hockey League. Three years later, he signed on with the Pittsburgh Penguins. His spectacular ability to read the ice, score goals, and assist others to score turned the worst team in the league into champions. Along the way, he was faced with much adversity: separation from his home and family in Canada, the death of a beloved coach, and chronic back pain. Yet through it all he persevered, proving over and over again that he deserved the nicknames given to him by fans: Super Mario, Mario the Magnificent, and Mario the Miracle Man. His most recent achievement includes being the captain of the gold medal winning Canadian olympic team.
