First time skating since season ended April 2

Tuesday, August 19, 2003

By Dejan Kovacevic, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

Mario Lemieux did something yesterday that few thought he would do upon the conclusion of the Penguins' 2002-03 season:

He hit the ice.

The team's captain and owner began his summer skating regimen early yesterday morning at the Island Sports Center, his first time on ice since an April 2 game at Mellon Arena which appeared at the time might be his last in the NHL.

"It's always great to see him on the ice," personal trainer and former teammate Jay Caufield said. "It's even better to see him enjoying himself like this. You can see he's really got the drive going."

Lemieux skated with Caufield and left winger Steve McKenna for 50 minutes. They mostly performed routine laps, using pucks only on occasion, and they avoided stops and starts.

Caufield said he will not begin the latter until next week, choosing to remain cautious with Lemieux because of his history of injury.

"I want to ease into this," Caufield said. "With Mario, there's never a need to rush things."

Lemieux, who will turn 38 five days before the Oct. 10 season opener, is down 12 pounds from his playing weight of 230 last season. He had been working out off the ice since mid-June with a primary objective of increasing the strength in his legs.

Caufield said it paid off.

"Mario's drive, his stride all looked great," he said. "He's already at a point where he looks strong on the ice. You could tell he's put his time in. And that's not just this summer. He's been doing a high level of exercising for more than two years now, making his training a year-round deal. If it's a constant program, the benefits are great."

Lemieux will be joined by Penguins defenseman Dan Focht tomorrow, then right winger Aleksey Morozov and Philadelphia Flyers right winger Mark Recchi next week.

Morozov had planned to arrive in town from his native Russia just before the start of training camp next month, but he was summoned by Caufield to join Lemieux's skating sessions because it is likely that Lemieux and Morozov will be linemates next season.

"Having Lexy here will be such a help to both of them," Caufield said. "I've seen before how, when they've spent time together like this, it's benefited both of them in game situations. And Lexy was thrilled when I called him to ask."

NOTES -- The Penguins will open training camp a week earlier than usual, most likely Sept. 4 or 5, for the purpose of getting rookies and tryouts a special session. Veterans will not be required to report until Sept. 11 or 12. It will mark the first time that the Penguins have had such a camp since 1997. In addition to hoping that it helps their rebuilding process, team officials want to be able to stagger their scheduling of physicals and other off-ice practices... A Minnesota state senator, Cal Larson, yesterday recommended that the home venue of the St. Cloud State University hockey teams be renamed after Herb Brooks. Larson's proposal that the National Hockey Center be called the Herb Brooks Arena received support from Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty. Brooks, a former Penguins employee who was killed in a car accident Aug. 11, started the St. Cloud State program by coaching there for a year without pay.

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