Mario Lemieux was my middle school dreamboat. At 27, the two-time Stanley Cup champ was far too old for me, but that didn’t stop my 7th grade self from leaving my prom to ogle the Magnificent One in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals. Sure, the Penguins lost in triple overtime, but did that matter to me? No. Because I was down the hall from the dance with my hunky, heavily padded date on the TV screen. Oh Mario, take me for a ride on your Zamboni. (Here’s a pic of the Magnificent One as a rookie in the 80s. Thanks, Guest Cougar Erica!)

Mario Lemieux was my middle school dreamboat. At 27, the two-time Stanley Cup champ was far too old for me, but that didn’t stop my 7th grade self from leaving my prom to ogle the Magnificent One in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals. Sure, the Penguins lost in triple overtime, but did that matter to me? No. Because I was down the hall from the dance with my hunky, heavily padded date on the TV screen. Oh Mario, take me for a ride on your Zamboni.

(Here’s a pic of the Magnificent One as a rookie in the 80s. Thanks, Guest Cougar Erica!)