There are few moments in life where you remember exactly where you were and what you were doing. Sure, most of these moments can be relatively morbid (i.e. the JFK Assassination, the Challenger explosion, 9/11, etc.), but there can also be other moments in life that are overwhelmingly positive and unique to oneself (i.e. accomplishing a goal you didn’t think was possible at first glance, the first time you met your significant other, the birth of a child, etc.). Then, if you’re not a complete weirdo, there are moments you’ll remember forever as a sports fan. Just like the other non-sports related memories you’ll never forget, these can be both good and bad (although the majority of these moments are typically in the form of thrilling victories and crushing defeats).
And then, every once and a while, there are pivotal moments in sports that don’t involve wins or losses.
If you were a fan of the Pittsburgh Penguins at the turn of the new millennium, you probably remember exactly where you were and what you were doing the night of Wednesday, December 27th, 2000. For me, I remember it being a snowy evening in the Burgh. I was ten years old, and I was helping my dad shovel snow off of the driveway (shoutout to me) before the 7:38 puck drop between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Pittsburgh Penguins.
But this was no ordinary late December regular season home game in Pittsburgh. In fact, there were rumblings a few weeks earlier of a potential return from the most decorated player in Penguins’ franchise history. And as the holiday season approached, it was confirmed – the man whose #66 jersey hung high in the rafters of Mellon Arena would be returning to the lineup that evening to play in his first game for the Penguins in 44 months. And boy, did he not disappoint.
Just like other memorable moments in Lemieux’s illustrious NHL career, the man always had a knack for the dramatic.
A mere 33 seconds into the contest, Lemieux assisted Jaromir Jagr on a goal on his first shift back. Then, one period later, he would tack on a goal of his own and another assist in the Penguins’ 5-0 rout over the Leafs.
Lemieux would eventually go on to finish the 2000-2001 season with a total of 76 points (35 goals, 41 assists) in 43 games. Just an absolutely insane clip of 1.76 points per game at the age of 35 (THIRTY FIVE!).
Now, do yourself a favor and relive the memories of that December evening 18 years ago as narrated by the one and only, Gary Thorne.
BONUS VIDEO – scroll to the :32 mark to hear former Penguins’ arena announcer John Barbero call Lemieux’s first goal back.
If that doesn’t put chills down your spine, there’s something wrong with you.
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P.S. – If anybody knows where I can find this blue Penguins button down, hit me up.
Swagger on a hundred thousand, trillion. These guys are living life!
P.P.S. – Shoutout to these women’s hairstyles.
I swear to god the year 2000 feels like it was yesterday.
Go Pens.
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