Mario Lemieux’s return to the ice on December 27, 2000, was far more than a comeback. After retiring in 1997, Lemieux stepped back onto NHL ice at age 35 and immediately reasserted his greatness. Lemieux was a king reclaiming his throne!
On his very first shift against the Toronto Maple Leafs, he set up a goal 33 seconds into the game. Lemieux then scored one himself later in the second period, and added another assist in the third. He finished the night with three points in a 5–0 victory, a performance that felt effortless and unmistakably familiar. He finished that comeback season with 76 points in 43 games after a 3.5-year absence in the height of the Dead Puck Era. He finished 2nd in the Hart Trophy voting that year.
For the City of Pittsburgh, the moment carried meaning well beyond the rink. Lemieux had already delivered two Stanley Cups in the early 1990s, but his decision to return in 2000 resonated on a deeper, more personal level.
Pittsburgh is a city that prides itself on grit, perseverance, and loyalty, and Lemieux embodied all three. At a time when Pittsburgh was still reshaping its economic and cultural identity, his return symbolized endurance and commitment. He did not owe the city another shift, let alone another season, yet he came back anyway, reinforcing the bond between a superstar and the community that embraced him.
On December 27, 2000, Mario Lemieux did not simply return to hockey; he reminded the sports world what true greatness looks like when it answers the call one more time.
5 comments
AI?
My one and only game at the Mellon Arena. Unreal. I am not sure how I could top that, short of winning a cup at home.
Yes, remember watching this game live. That man effortlessly put 3 pts on the board in that W. It looked like he was just kind of floating out there but was able to just dwarf everyone else. Crazy season.
Greatest athlete in Pittsburgh history
76 points (35 goals!) in 43 games after not playing in over 1000 days is absolutely absurd. That’s a 145 point pace over 82 games!