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Wednesday, August 21, 2002

By Dejan Kovacevic, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

Alexandre Daigle is setting his goals high for his coming appearance as a tryout in Penguins training camp.

He doesn't just want to make the team. He wants to skate with the owner.

Daigle, the first overall pick in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft who is attempting a comeback after two years away from hockey, had declined interview requests since signing a tryout contract with the Penguins last week. But he spoke last night to Paul Steigerwald, host of the team-sponsored "PensWeek" radio show.

"I think for everybody in the world, that's the dream," Daigle said of a chance to play with center Mario Lemieux, who has a vacancy on his left wing. "I've been watching him for a long time. First time I saw him, I was 9 years old, and he was a junior playing in Laval. Everybody knows he's a hero in Pittsburgh, but he's a hero in Montreal, as well. ... He's the best player in the league. It would be outstanding if I can have a chance to play with him."

Daigle said the presence of Lemieux was the primary reason he chose the Penguins over several other NHL teams that invited him to try out.

"Mario was a huge part of it," he said. "That made them my first choice, for sure."

Daigle explained that the hunger to play hockey -- something many had questioned in his first seven NHL seasons -- started churning early this summer. He said he wakes up at 5 a.m. daily to participate in rigorous, structured workouts with other NHL players in California.

"I wasn't enjoying hockey for a long time. I didn't want to cheat myself," he said of his decision to quit in 2000. "I thought maybe, if I took some time off, I could come back stronger and have a different approach. That's exactly what happened. I didn't think it would take two years, though. I was hoping for about six months. ... Now, I have the itch again."