The city has received its fair share of print in hockey circles this week as your Worcester Sharks have signed arguably the most hated player ever to lace up the skates in 43 year old Claude Lemieux, who has been out of hockey since the 02-03 season.
Of you were a fan of the Bruins in the mid 90's and early 2000's Lemieux probably made your blood boil on several occasions. Lemieux and his 4 Stanley Cup rings played in his first game for the Worcester Sharks this evening on Providence. I would expect Lemieux to stay in Worcester for at least a month or two, San Jose is rolling this season but I could see why they would love to be able to bring up Lemieux as a locker room presence for the second half of the season to help San Jose in the playoffs. In the meantime get on down to the DCU Center, the Sharks have been putting pressure on opponents all season long and have put together a nice string of five wins in a row before being stopped by Providence this evening.
*From The Hockey News, "Lemieux "Most Hated Ever"*
Claude Lemieux. He was the ultimate do-whatever-it-takes-to-win player; using his stick to score big goals and whack opponents, while using his mouth to annoy foes and on at least one occasion, bite. He won four Stanley Cups with three different teams, garnering the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP with New Jersey in 1995.
His legacy was cemented when, as a member of the Colorado Avalanche in the 1996 Western Conference final against Detroit, he dangerously crushed Kris Draper from behind into the boards. Draper sustained a broken jaw, nose and cheekbone and required reconstructive surgery on his face. Lemieux was suspended two playoff games and incited one of the most heated rivalries hockey has ever seen.
Sports Illustrated
Sporting News
Mercury NewsLink
The Hockey News
1 comment:
Incredible. I wonder what kind of reaction he will get from the crowd. I may need to try and go to the next home game.
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