Historical Hockey and Sports Memorabilia Auction June 2025
Mario Lemieux’s comeback is the stuff of legends. After initially retiring in 1997 due to health
issues, including a battle with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Lemieux shocked the hockey world by
returning to the ice in December 2000, not just as a player, but as the owner of the Pittsburgh
Penguins. His return was nothing short of remarkable. Even after years away from the game, his
natural talent were undiminished. In the 2002-03 season, at the age of 37, Lemieux put up an
impressive 91 points (28 goals, 63 assists) in just 67 games, a testament to his enduring
greatness and ability to compete at an elite level despite injuries.
Available now is a game-used Nike stick from the 2002-03 season, showing light, but noticeable game wear. The original black rubber grip remains affixed at the knob, and the blade tape has been removed, and is bare, providing a clean canvas for Lemieux’s bold signature in black marker, which is beautifully centered and well preserved. Written in black marker on the stem of the blade is “3-20-03”, dating this stick to the March 20, 2003 game where the Penguins faced off against the Flyers with the stamped factory code "030324 01" placed nearby. Lemieux recorded an assist in the contest. A Classic Auctions LOA will accompany.
These sticks come from the personal collection of Lou Nolan, the legendary voice of the
Philadelphia Flyers. Nolan has been a fixture with the Flyers since the team’s inception in 1967,
starting as a press box assistant before becoming the team’s public address announcer in
1972—a role he’s held ever since. For over five decades, he has been calling plays for Flyers
hockey, his voice guiding us through some of the franchise’s most iconic moments. This of
course includes their back-to-back Stanley Cup victories in 1974 and 1975. These sticks,
personally gifted to Nolan by some of the NHL’s biggest legends, reflect the relationships he’s
built over his storied career and the trust and admiration he’s earned within the NHL community
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