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San Jose Is 'LePumped' About Lemieux

Unretired hockey star makes solid start to comeback at 43

By Katherine Thompson, Newser Staff

Posted Jan 21, 2009 2:46 PM CST

(Newser) – Four-time Stanley Cup winner Claude Lemieux took to the ice for the San Jose Sharks yesterday after nearly 6 years in retirement, and Mark Purdy of the Mercury News is cautiously optimistic. The 43-year-old, who's been a pro for longer than several of his new teammates have been alive, "was solid. That's one of the finest compliments you can pay a professional athlete," Purdy writes.

"I've been dreaming about this since I retired," said Lemieux, who drew an ovation when he took to the ice 2:04 into the game. "The fans gave me that salute on the first shift. That meant a lot to me." Coach Todd McLellan seems to be easing his newest player back into the game cautiously: Lemieux played just seven minutes in the 2-1 overtime victory.

[Images (3)]

[Quotes (1)]

San Jose Sharks' Claude Lemieux (32) takes to the ice on a shift change, during the first period against the Vancouver Canucks in an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009, in San Jose. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

San Jose Sharks' Claude Lemieux (32) is guarded by Vancouver Canucks' Kevin Bieksa (3) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

In this June 2, 2000 file photo, New Jersey Devils' Claude Lemieux listens to a question from the media in East Rutherford, N.J. Six years after retiring, Lemieux is back in the NHL. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun, File)

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He finished his checks, he wasn't a liability out there and he skated well, which is something we were looking for. - San Jose Sharks coach Todd McLellan, on Lemieux's return from retirement

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San Jose Is 'LePumped' About Lemieux