Tony_ Posted December 10, 2005 Share Posted December 10, 2005 http://www.tsn.ca/canadian_hockey/news_sto...y.asp?id=146457 TSN.ca/CP files 12/10/2005 1:05:19 PM Mario Lemieux has pulled out of the Olympics. Lemieux told TSN that he informed Team Canada staff, including Wayne Gretzky, that he has withdrawn his name from consideration for the team. ''I talked to (Wayne Gretzky) a couple days ago and I told him that I would pass on the Olympics,'' said Lemieux. ''With the way I have been playing so far and with the young guys we have coming up in Canada, I think the best thing to do is to go with the young guys, the young legs. With Spezza playing very well and Sid and Staal and all these guys, I think it's time for these guys to step up and they deserve to be on the team.'' Lemieux thinks Sidney Crosby would make a solid a additionn to Team Canada. Related Info ''I think he should be on the team. He is going to be part of Team Canada for the next 15-20 years.'' Lemieux's decision comes after he was admitted to hospital on Wednesday after complaining of an irregular heartbeat. He was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, which can be treated with medication. Lemieux also stated Saturday that he will receive a medical checkup on Monday and hopes to resume workouts in the coming weeks. Pittsburgh general manager Craig Patrick said the condition should not affect Lemieux's life in any way and that the Hall of Famer should be able to return to the Penguins' lineup relatively soon. Patrick said Lemieux can start on the medication immediately and doctors do not expect any ill effects from it. Lemieux has had numerous medical problems since his career began in 1984, including a bout with Hodgkin's disease in 1993 that was partly responsible for him sitting out the 1994-95 season. Lemieux also has been sidelined for long periods with back and hip problems, and he missed two-thirds of the Penguins' 1990-91 Stanley Cup championship season with severe lower back pain. In 21 NHL games this year Lemieux has seven goals, 14 assists and a -17 rating. --------------------- That sucks, oh well I guess it's time for a new generation to pick up where he left off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMMR Posted December 10, 2005 Share Posted December 10, 2005 Well good for Mario, I hope he re habs well plays well for the rest of the season gets a sold break when the Olympics are on and takes full flight for the pens to make the playoffs in 8th spot and upset the Sens in the first round. Now that’s wishful thinking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PMAC Posted December 10, 2005 Share Posted December 10, 2005 Classy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetsniper Posted December 10, 2005 Share Posted December 10, 2005 I was hoping he'd do this. Not that I don't like Mario but the kids are a lot more deserving to be on the team than he is. Glad he saw that too. Classy move, Mario. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~moeman Posted December 10, 2005 Share Posted December 10, 2005 Smart and classy move by #66, the greatest player ever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dark_faerie87 Posted December 10, 2005 Share Posted December 10, 2005 Bravo, I would definitely like to see one of the kids make the team. After all, why break up the deadly Spezza-Heatley duo? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psycing Posted December 10, 2005 Share Posted December 10, 2005 Expected... and certainly a good move. Canada's got a ton of youth coming up fast... and It's time to get that torch passed down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortcat1 Posted December 10, 2005 Share Posted December 10, 2005 It had to happen eventually. We should be grateful for his contributions. The same could be said of Steve Yzerman even though he wasn't as important as Lemieux. New leaders and heros will come up and, one day, they'll go also, only to be replaced by other leaders and heros. :hlogo::ghg::hlogo: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~moeman Posted December 10, 2005 Share Posted December 10, 2005 shortcat knows, Yzerman deserves praise (even though we haven't given him a thread od his own). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortcat1 Posted December 11, 2005 Share Posted December 11, 2005 For what it's worth, Don Cherry stated that he believes that Gretzky would do well to look forward by going with the up-and-comers and not try to keep the older heros to the detriment of the olympic team. I tend to agree. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~moeman Posted December 11, 2005 Share Posted December 11, 2005 People picking Crosby over Spezza is just not Sensible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psycing Posted December 11, 2005 Share Posted December 11, 2005 Spezza Staal Crosby In that order! Spezza is a plus because he plays well w/ Heatley... and Heatley just about has a fixed spot on this team. In my opinion, both Staal and Crosby would be bad choices... but that's just me. I haven't actually got a good look at how Staal plays, so I could be completely off.. I just can't imagine where he'd fit onto this team... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leafs Suck Posted December 11, 2005 Share Posted December 11, 2005 1) Staal 2) Crosby 3) Spezza All three should be on but I have a feeling The Ego will leave one off. Odds are it's Spezza. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BTH Posted December 11, 2005 Share Posted December 11, 2005 Originally posted by ~moemanshortcat knows, Yzerman deserves praise (even though we haven't given him a thread od his own). I gave Yzerman a thread when he dropped out. And Yzerman deserves more praises than Lemieux IMO because he pulled out when he was healthy and Lemieux only when he was having problems. I doubt Lemieux would have played even if he was healthy. So Spezza will play in his first ever senior national team. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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