Mario Lemieux has been named the top player in the history of major junior hockey by the Canadian Hockey League as they revealed their all-time Top 50 list on Thursday. The former Laval Voisins standout claimed the top spot ahead of Sidney Crosby from the Pittsburgh Penguins (Rimouski Oceanic), with Wayne Gretzky (Peterborough Petes/Soo Greyhounds), Connor McDavid (Erie Otters), and Mike Bossy (Laval National) following closely behind. The CHL explained that the rankings were determined through a combination of media and fan votes as part of the league’s 50th-anniversary celebrations.
Expressing his gratitude, Lemieux stated, “I’m honored to be selected among these exceptional players. My experience at Laval and in the QMJHL significantly contributed to my NHL career preparation.” He further acknowledged the importance of the CHL in Canadian hockey and player development over the years.
During the 1983-84 season, Lemieux set CHL records for most goals (133) and points (282) in a single season while achieving a 61-game point streak with Laval. His contributions led Laval to win the 1984 QMJHL championship with 52 points in 14 playoff games.
CHL President Dan MacKenzie praised Lemieux’s outstanding performance with the Laval Voisins as a significant milestone in CHL history. Lemieux went on to secure two Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins and amassed 1,723 points in 915 NHL regular-season games before being inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1997. Despite retiring, he returned to the NHL in 2000, played an additional five seasons with the Penguins, and led Team Canada to Olympic gold in 2002.