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Lemieux lends memorabilia to museum for Winter Classic
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Michael DuBois, director of exhibits and Courtney Keel, registrar and other Heinz History Center and Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum employess set up the "Memories of Mario, at the museum. The exhibit, which features a special collection of trophies, jersey, and sticks on loan from Lemieux will be on display through Feb 13.
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Hockey fans eager to watch Mario Lemieux back on the ice can relive memories, such as the 1992 Stanley Cup final, by browsing his personal trophy collection on display at the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum.
"Memories of Mario" features trophies, jerseys and sticks on loan from the National Hockey League Hall of Famer and owner of the Penguins. The exhibit is on display from today through Feb. 13 at the Heinz History Center in the Strip District.
Some of the 15 trophies, usually only found inside Mr. Lemieux's home, include Art Ross trophies for being the league's top scorer, two Conn Smythe trophies as most valuable player of the 1991 and 1992 playoffs and a Stanley Cup replica presented to him in 2008-09 as the Penguins owner.
"It's pretty overwhelming to see the scope of his career," said Anne Madarasz, co-director of the sports museum. "What I find most fascinating is the fact that he's succeeded in every area of life. He's faced great challenges along the way and overcome them."
Nearly 30 items are on display -- providing a timeline of sorts for Mr. Lemieux's life in Pittsburgh. There is memorabilia from his time as a player, as well as the pen used to sign the contract for Consol Energy Center.
Other than the trophies, there are eight sticks from different pivotal career moments, like his 50th NHL goal and five game-worn jerseys. One of the jerseys is from the 1990 NHL All-Star Game at the Civic Arena.
"His personal life, his struggle with injury and illness, his dedication to the community, all that beyond being one of the greatest players ever in hockey, is to me what makes him such a fascinating story," Ms. Madarasz said.
Visitors to the museum on New Year's Day can make use of a special transportation perk. In conjunction with the Winter Classic game between the Penguins and the Washington Capitals that day at Heinz Field, Pepsi Max is sponsoring free Port Authority transit rides all day on any bus, light-rail vehicle or the Monongahela Incline.
On Dec. 31, Mr. Lemieux will participate in the Penguins-Capitals alumni game at Heinz Field.
Find more information and a complete list of 67 "NHL Winter Classic Week" events at visitpittsburgh.com.
First Published December 22, 2010 12:00 am
