Newsgroups: rec.sport.hockey
Date: Tue,  6 Oct 1992 12:58:29 -0400 
From: "James J. Murawski" <jjm+@andrew.cmu.edu>
Subject: News Release announcing Lemieux's signing


For those that may be interested, I have a copy of the Penguins official
news release that announced Mario Lemieux's new contract.  It is reprinted
here without permission.

>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                     OCTOBER 5, 1992
>
>               PENGUINS RESIGN LEMIEUX TO SEVEN YEAR CONTRACT
>               ----------------------------------------------
>
>    Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Penguins President Howard Baldwin and Executive
>Vice President and General Manager Craig Patrick announced today that the
>Penguins have resigned all-star center Mario Lemieux to a seven year
>contract.  Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
>    Baldwin in announcing the signing said, "I have observed players like
>Bobby Hull, Bobby Orr, Gordie Howe, and Wayne Gretzky traded from the team
>where they established most of their records and identity.  I never
>want to be in a position where we have to buy someone else's star player.
>Our best option is investing our money in Mario Lemieux and keeping him in
>Pittsburgh where he belongs.
>    Loyalty is a three way street.  Mario has been loyal to this franchise
>and we have been loyal to him.  The fans have been loyal to us, giving us
>tremendous support even considering the recent price increases.  We would
>be remiss if we allowed Mario to leave Pittsburgh and take him away from
>our fans.
>    Mario Lemieux is quite simply the greatest hockey player in the world
>today.  He takes the game to its highest level in terms of talent, drama, and
>charisma.  He is a leader and the heart and soul of this franchise - and
>right now the foremost attraction for the National Hockey League.  There was
>only one Gordie and only one Wayne Gretzky and there will never be another
>Lemieux.  We are exceptionally happy to have him with us for the next
>seven seasons.  And I can say very honestly that Mario Lemieux is indeed
>Mr. Hockey."
>    Lemieux, an eight-year NHL veteran, led the NHL in scoring last year with
>131 points (44+87), despite missing 16 games.  He also led the 1992 playoffs
>in points (34) and goals (16), winning the Conn Symthe Trophy as the Most
>Valuable player in the playoffs.  Lemieux recorded his 1,000th career point
>on March 22, 1992 at Detroit in career game number 513, to become the second
>fastest player in the league to record 1,000 points.
>    "I have seen Mario Lemieux do some great things, but his performance
>as a player and a leader in the last two playoff seasons will be an integral
>part of NHL history," Patrick remarked.  "He is a once-in-a-life time player
>with skills you can't believe.  Pittsburgh has had some great sports heroes
>but none of them top Mario Lemieux."
>    Lemieux, a native of Montreal, is the Penguins all-time leader in career
>goals (408), assists (606), points (1,014) and power play goals (132).  He
>set single-season team records for points (199), goals (85) and assists (114)
>during the 1988-89 season.
>    Lemieux has won the Art Ross Trophy as the league's leading scorer three
>times, the Conn Smythe Trophy twice and the Hart Trophy, as the NHL Most
>Valuable Player in 1988-89.  He is only one of three players to win these
>three trophies in NHL history (Bobby Orr & Bryan Trottier).  Lemieux was
>named to the NHL's First All-Star Team in 1987-88 and 1988-89 and the Second
>All-Star Team in 1985-86, 1986-87 and 1991-92.  He was selected as the NHL's
>Rookie of the Year in 1984-85.
>    Lemieux, who celebrates his 27th birthday today, was the first overall
>draft choice in the 1984 NHL Entry Draft.

The news release then lists his bio and season-by-season career stats for
Laval in the QMJHL and Pittsburgh in the NHL.

It should also be noted that there is an error in the next-to-last paragraph
of the news release.  The release says that Lemieux is only one of three
players to win the Ross, Smythe, and Hart.  The release should be corrected
to say that Lemieux is only one of three players to wih the Ross, Smythe, Hart,
and Calder.

====================================================================
    Jim Murawski
    Sr. Data Base Analyst               (412) 268-2650  [office]
    Administrative Systems              (412) 268-6868  [fax]
    Carnegie Mellon University          jjm+@andrew.cmu.edu
    4910 Forbes Avenue                  Office: UCC 155
    Pittsburgh, PA 15213-3890

Newsgroups: rec.sport.hockey