I’ve always called it “the phantom assist”. He knew what he was doing. The goalie was fixated on Lemieux and it was pure genius to pretend to make a play. He was an amazing player.
@Con Jandy Security standing room only on the bench and only wide enough boards for beers...I was a goalie so all I had was a water(beer) bottle that guys were aiming for on top the net
There were a few kids at the pub who didn't grow up watching Mario asking why were were gushing about him missing a pass. We had to explain to them and tell them this guy once scored 199 points and knew exactly what he was doing
Most people don’t know that Mario had an assist on that goal, he passed the puck to Pronger prior, Pronger passed it back to him instead of receiving the pass he let the puck go through his legs.
Super Mario! 😊👍 I remember this goal, Mario - fantastic hockey player and wonderful person! Unfortunately, I from Eastern Europe, and I think no need to tell what is it for a big hockey fan. I love NHL hockey! I love Penguins and Mario! ❤When Mario be on ice you always expect to see miracle, and he give a lot of great and beautiful play, like it be in this moment. In next life I want to be born in Canada for become hockey player. ☃️ 🥅 🏒 🇨🇦
That game was such an amazing moment in time. It became somewhat expected that Canada would win Olympic gold after that, but doing it for the first time in forever was just so special ! Almost as special as doing it here in Vancouver on home ice eight year later. Nothing but nothing, not even you Lord Stanley, can beat that for me
@@sjsomething4936 i didn't watch it ......i fucking hated Sidney Crosby then whining little pussy........ the 2002 team will always be in my heart the best team Canada assembled ........ grit, skill and talent....... and most importantly.....heart.
I remember when I was really young, watching this game on tv and I would pretend to be a player in the game with my mini sticks. Hockey is my childhood, and I still love it.
I will never forget that goal. I watched it live. At the time, I thought it was a move of sheer brilliance. Now that I’m older, I have to respect Mario’s “Hockey Sense” to know where Kariya was at that moment, and that Pronger’s pass, though intended for him, would just as easily land on Kariya’s stick. The only thing I don’t know to this day, is whether Kariya knew it was coming, if he was just as surprised as the rest of us, and just fired it home.
Some people might not remember this but Canada barley made it to the quarterfinals. They were the 3rd rank team in their pool with Sweden in First and the Czechs in second. Belarus would go on to upset the Swedes making them play Canada in the Semis. The rest is history.
One quick correction / historical note: Prior to 1998, NHL players were not allowed to go to the Olympics. Canada's Olympic record prior to 1998 is irrelevant because our best players weren't there. We were sending amateur (non-NHL) players to the Olympics to go up against professional Russian players (who weren't allowed to leave the Soviet Union and play in the NHL until Alexander Mogilny defected in 1989). So it's an apples and oranges comparison. Prior to 1998, the standard bearer was the Canada Cup / World Cup of hockey, which decided who was best. Canada winning gold in 2002 means that Canada won Olympic gold in just their second attempt (while sending their best players). A shocking upset loss to the Czech Republic knocked Canada out early in 1998 thanks to Dominik Hasek. Canada would go on to win Olympic gold again in 2010 (Crosby), and so on. Russia, by contrast, has NEVER won Olympic gold since it became a best-on-best format in 1998 (to the best of my knowledge).
Remember that the Olympics was amateur athletes. So the Eastern Bloc countries were sending mature NHL level players while Canada was sending amateur players.
I remember watching the game with a bunch of friends. We were on a power play and Lemieux had the puck in control and was surveying his options for a pass. His four options were mega superstars and someone at our party just yelled out “It doesn’t matter who you pass it to, you can’t lose!”
I remember watching this and jumping out at what I saw MARIO do. No one else in the room caught it until I pointed out on the replay. It's too bad MARIO only played in the 2002 Olympics, certainly someone needed to carry Grtzkey during the 1998 & 2006 Games
I had to run to the store during this game. The nearest store was in a mall. Every TV in the mall had this game on. In each store and restaurant someone had brought a TV and they were all watching it. It was so surreal.
Hockey was SO much better back then. I no longer watch the NHL at all!! Occasionally I'll still watch international hockey but overall hockey, & ALL sports, have gotten worse!
Finally see a comment I can fully agree with. Sure it was a smart heads up play…..but, ..that’s all…it was a smart heads up play. Nothing special. It wasn’t genius, or “only Mario could do this “. Great play, but I think it’s also one of the most overrated plays. If he barely touches it and it still goes to Kariya who scores, it’s still the same goal. More credit to Kariya.
That 2002 Canadian team was an absolute WAGON.
I remember this game like it was yesterday. Unreal that it’s been 21 years.
I’ve always called it “the phantom assist”. He knew what he was doing. The goalie was fixated on Lemieux and it was pure genius to pretend to make a play. He was an amazing player.
we should start a petition to officialy credit this assist.
@@jessecerasus9621 Lemieux got an assist because he passed the puck to Pronger on the zone entry. Take a look at the summary of the game. 😉
@@Elvisvivant So he should have to assist on the play...🤒
I remember watching it live and I still think it is one of the best play ever.
One of the greatest displays of hockey IQ ever*
Look at all the names, so many legends.
Think of the hall of farmers represented at that game
Do the farmers keep cows in the hall?
@Con Jandy Security I played in the Stall Brothers arena in thunder bay and it was a barn so....probably??
@@j.r.6142 that sounds like a cool hall of farmers.
@Con Jandy Security standing room only on the bench and only wide enough boards for beers...I was a goalie so all I had was a water(beer) bottle that guys were aiming for on top the net
@Con Jandy Security I literally can't joke, it happened and I'm still in love with how shit it was for exactly those reasons
I was living in Seattle then and I watched it on CBC since they were available on cable TV there. I could almost hear the cheers from the north.
I still remember watching this. To this day its still the best hockey IQ play ive ever seen.
There were a few kids at the pub who didn't grow up watching Mario asking why were were gushing about him missing a pass. We had to explain to them and tell them this guy once scored 199 points and knew exactly what he was doing
Most people don’t know that Mario had an assist on that goal, he passed the puck to Pronger prior, Pronger passed it back to him instead of receiving the pass he let the puck go through his legs.
I had heard of that goal but had so far failed to find a video showing it, so, thank you for that.
Super Mario! 😊👍 I remember this goal, Mario - fantastic hockey player and wonderful person! Unfortunately, I from Eastern Europe, and I think no need to tell what is it for a big hockey fan. I love NHL hockey! I love Penguins and Mario! ❤When Mario be on ice you always expect to see miracle, and he give a lot of great and beautiful play, like it be in this moment. In next life I want to be born in Canada for become hockey player. ☃️ 🥅 🏒 🇨🇦
That game was such an amazing moment in time. It became somewhat expected that Canada would win Olympic gold after that, but doing it for the first time in forever was just so special ! Almost as special as doing it here in Vancouver on home ice eight year later. Nothing but nothing, not even you Lord Stanley, can beat that for me
I believe that the 2010 Olympic gold medal game then became the highest viewed broadcast in Canadian history.
@@sjsomething4936 i didn't watch it ......i fucking hated Sidney Crosby then whining little pussy........ the 2002 team will always be in my heart the best team Canada assembled ........ grit, skill and talent....... and most importantly.....heart.
I remember when I was really young, watching this game on tv and I would pretend to be a player in the game with my mini sticks. Hockey is my childhood, and I still love it.
The level of awareness to do this on this stage is mind-boggling
0:53 you can see Richter fall for the move then desperately dive over
he was simply the best, always and forever
I was only 9 at the time but I remember it like it was yesterday.
I will never forget that goal. I watched it live. At the time, I thought it was a move of sheer brilliance. Now that I’m older, I have to respect Mario’s “Hockey Sense” to know where Kariya was at that moment, and that Pronger’s pass, though intended for him, would just as easily land on Kariya’s stick.
The only thing I don’t know to this day, is whether Kariya knew it was coming, if he was just as surprised as the rest of us, and just fired it home.
I remember watching this with German commentary in Stuttgart!
Damn, all those he was just firing off. All legends.
What kind of a fuckin line is Kariya-Lemieux-Yzerman
Lol that's like a nightmare for any team
Lol like what do you even do
@@JaysonHoang14 neutral zone trap? lol
Mario Lemieux was my brother’s favourite and Paul Kariya was mine, so that goal, that game, that whole team was special.
If Crosby has the Golden Goal, then allow me to be the first to call Lemieux's ridiculousness the Golden Assist. #GOAT
Love this idea! (and wish I thought of it haha!)
@@RedHotHockeyYYC Thank you, everybody. Thank you very much. (Insert humble bow and wave here.)
I remember watching that game live..
Goosebumps
Only Mario was capable of this. When he was on the ice the game seemed to slow down around him.
Le Magnifique !!!!!
I saw that game and I was a ducks fan back then so I was hyped Paul made the goal but the non pass blew my mind.
I went and checked, since I was curious... that Canadian roster had 14 Hall of Famers. FOURTEEN. Holy shit.
That's wild! Eventually I'll have to get around to doing a deep dive video on the '02 Canadian olympic hockey squad...
The immaculate deception…
I remember losing my mind over that play. 100000000 hockey IQ
I had completely forgot about Mario Lemieux, but he was one of my absolute favorites back in the late 90's. Thank you for bringing back this memory
No one else forgot about him. Just you.
Joeeeeee Saaaaaaaakiccccccc!
I miss you Bob Cole!
Pretty good goal
Some people might not remember this but Canada barley made it to the quarterfinals. They were the 3rd rank team in their pool with Sweden in First and the Czechs in second. Belarus would go on to upset the Swedes making them play Canada in the Semis. The rest is history.
Tommy Salo
That’s crazy considering the names on this roster lol. How many are not even in the hall of fame right now.
This is the best play i love about him! :)
Super Mario makes me proud to live in Pittsburgh
Makes me proud he is Canadian and represented Canada.
good video
Look, I know it doesn't work that way, but dude deserved an assist on that one!
That was max hockey IQ.
I’m going to make the play of the game and I’m not even going to touch the puck! Wayne who?
Can we get another best on best tournament, when will mcdavid have his moment for canada?!
One quick correction / historical note: Prior to 1998, NHL players were not allowed to go to the Olympics. Canada's Olympic record prior to 1998 is irrelevant because our best players weren't there. We were sending amateur (non-NHL) players to the Olympics to go up against professional Russian players (who weren't allowed to leave the Soviet Union and play in the NHL until Alexander Mogilny defected in 1989). So it's an apples and oranges comparison. Prior to 1998, the standard bearer was the Canada Cup / World Cup of hockey, which decided who was best.
Canada winning gold in 2002 means that Canada won Olympic gold in just their second attempt (while sending their best players). A shocking upset loss to the Czech Republic knocked Canada out early in 1998 thanks to Dominik Hasek. Canada would go on to win Olympic gold again in 2010 (Crosby), and so on. Russia, by contrast, has NEVER won Olympic gold since it became a best-on-best format in 1998 (to the best of my knowledge).
Highest IQ play in the history of the game
let's not get carried away here
@@bravepotatoe7513 exactly LOL.
Name 1 IQ play better than this?
Back when they still picked the best guy for the job. 👍 2002 Team Canada was lit.
I remember seeing a better angle of this play and it looks even more impressive.
As a Canadian (21 years old) I'm surprised there was a time we weren't guaranteed gold, maybe silver.
Remember that the Olympics was amateur athletes. So the Eastern Bloc countries were sending mature NHL level players while Canada was sending amateur players.
Guaranteed gold for Canada now? What are you talking about..
@@ilarivaisanen I mean, kind of. Across 5 olympics in which NHL players were competing, Canada won 3 golds and 1 silver.
@@ilarivaisanen I mean watching hockey is almost boring now cuz we win like every time. IIHF too.
The world cup used to be called the Canada cup. Because Canada was the team to beat.. still is.. go Canada go
I remember watching the game with a bunch of friends. We were on a power play and Lemieux had the puck in control and was surveying his options for a pass. His four options were mega superstars and someone at our party just yelled out “It doesn’t matter who you pass it to, you can’t lose!”
I remember watching this and jumping out at what I saw MARIO do. No one else in the room caught it until I pointed out on the replay. It's too bad MARIO only played in the 2002 Olympics, certainly someone needed to carry Grtzkey during the 1998 & 2006 Games
Gretzky didn't play in 2006.
I remember this.
to me it's probably the greatest play in hockey history
Jeee-ooooe Sakic!
*JEE-YOE SAKIC SCORES*
I guess my 1980s memory for Lemieux and Gretzky together must’ve been World Cup. Canada’s team so good that Yzerman did not make the cut at Center 😮
1987 Canada Cup. The only time that they played for Canada together.
1000 hockey IQ 😮
back before we destroyed ourselves
Kariya my fav all time
I had to run to the store during this game. The nearest store was in a mall. Every TV in the mall had this game on. In each store and restaurant someone had brought a TV and they were all watching it. It was so surreal.
Definitely could have waited til after the game to go to the store.
I don’t care what anyone says. This is the greatest hockey goal of all time.
Mario joked in one interview and said what really happened was that he missed the puck. 😄
The US still hasn't won since Lake Placid. What an absolute joke to ever call them a superpower in hockey. Take off, eh!
This is true but hockey is like the 4th or 5th choice for our best athletes.
Hockey was SO much better back then. I no longer watch the NHL at all!! Occasionally I'll still watch international hockey but overall hockey, & ALL sports, have gotten worse!
Hockey is amazing right now, need to try it again
Super Mario
But how do we know he didn't just zone out for a moment 🤔
he fanned on it!
I don't see the big deal. If I were in Mario's position I'd also let Paul Kariya take the puck.
Finally see a comment I can fully agree with. Sure it was a smart heads up play…..but, ..that’s all…it was a smart heads up play. Nothing special. It wasn’t genius, or “only Mario could do this “. Great play, but I think it’s also one of the most overrated plays. If he barely touches it and it still goes to Kariya who scores, it’s still the same goal. More credit to Kariya.
Did I miss it?
To me, this play shows why Lemieux was a greater player than Gretzky
Great non-pass but Lemieux most likely would have scored had he shot it.
Without America, the NHL would be pathetic and poor.
One of the best games ever
They call that a dummy in football ⚽️
Was Gretzky wearing the USA uniform?
No, it’s a red Canada jersey.