It’s an opportunity to lace up the skates, enjoy the competition of hockey, and share the ice with one of the sport’s greatest stars.
The 7th annual Mario Lemieux Fantasy Camp is underway, and it’s bringing together former college players, former Penguins, hockey hall-of-famers, and Mario Lemieux, eighth all-time on the NHL scoring list and the Penguins co-owner and chairman.
PHOTOS: 7th annual Mario Lemieux Fantasy Camp
On Tuesday, Lemieux was in uniform, and on the ice with several former Penguins, along with 68 participants for the annual camp to benefit the Mario Lemieux Foundation.
Lemieux’s former teammate and Hockey Hall of Famer Joey Mullen, now a grandfather, had a jump in his skates as he took the ice.
“It's great, always is,” said the 61-year-old Mullen, “I play as much as I can, when I can. This is a great opportunity. Meet some new people.”
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One of the campers joked with Mullen that he hadn’t lost a step.
Mullen barked back, “Never had it to lose.”
Mary Restuccia played college hockey for Boston College. She still loves to play, even if it means driving across Pennsylvania to be here this week.
“There aren’t words for it,” says Restuccia, a resident of Malvern, near Philadelphia, and now a two-time participant in the camp.
Restuccia says the second time around is more fun because “the nerves are all gone.”
Campers are divided into a handful of teams with pro captains and a pro head coach.
Lemieux rotates between teams during round-robin competition.
Chris Powala has attended every one of the Lemieux Fantasy Camps.
Powala was born and raised in Pittsburgh before relocating to Philadelphia for work, but he looks forward to coming home this time every year, “it’s awesome. It's something to look forward to. I can't wait.”
Former Penguins defenseman and Stanley Cup champion Randy Hillier serves as an assistant coach under former Pens general manager and coach Eddie Johnston.
Hillier says he’ll be testing coaching Mullen, a three-time Stanley Cup champ.
"This may be the biggest challenge I've ever had," Hiller said.