Mario Lemieux

Mario Lemieux married Nathalie Asselin in 1993 and they have four children: Lauren, Stephanie, Austin Nicholas and Alexa. The family lives in the affluent Pittsburgh suburb of Sewickley.

He created the Mario Lemieux Foundation in 1993 when he was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma to fund medical research projects. He co- founded ‘Athletes for Hope’, an organization that streamlines charity activities of athletes

Lemieux was born on October 5, 1965 in Montreal to Pierrette, a home-maker, and Jean-Guy Lemieux, an engineer. He and his older brothers Alain and Richard grew up in a working class family in the Ville-Émard district.

The brothers would practice in the basement using wooden kitchen spoons as hockey sticks and bottle caps as pucks until their father created a rink on the front lawn.

Lemieux was picked in the 1984 Entry Draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins, who wanted a natural goal scorer to improve their fortunes as they had finished dead last in the previous two seasons.

He played in the NHL All-Star Game and became the first rookie to be named the All-Star Game's Most Valuable Player. He won the Calder Memorial Trophy for top rookie in 1984-85.

His second five-goal performance helped in a 10-7 victory against Philadelphia Flyers in 1989. He tied the NHL record for most goals and points in a postseason game, but the Penguins lost the series.

He underwent surgery to fix a herniated disk, and missed 50 games in the 1990–91 NHL season, but returned to lead the Penguins to their first Stanley Cup defeating Minnesota North Stars.

He played only 64 games in his injury-plagued 1991–92 season. Despite missing several games, he helped The Penguins sweep the Chicago Blackhawks in the Stanley Cup Final with 78 play-offs points.

Lemieux won the Art Ross Trophy given to Scoring Champion 6 times in his career, was thrice winner of Hart Memorial Trophy for Most Valuable Player between 1988 and 1996.

He won the Lester B. Pearson Most Valuable Player as voted by NHL players four times and the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy in1993 for showing perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to ice hockey.

He was part of the First All-Star Team Centre or Second All-Star Team Centre teams, between 1986 and 2001. The players are selected through ballot by the captains of the teams and NHL officials.

He was received the honorable title of Knight from Quebec Premier Jean Charest, and in 2010, he received the Order of Canada from then-Governor-General Michaëlle Jean for his services to the nation and society.

Playing in the Canada Cup of 1987, he set a tournament record 11 goals in 9 games; his last one was a last minute goal that clinched the tie against the Soviet.