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NHL
Lemieux will not play in Olympics
Associated Press
Published December 11, 2005
PITTSBURGH - Penguins owner-captain Mario Lemieux won't play for Canada in the Olympics.
Talking publicly Saturday for the first time since being hospitalized with an irregular heartbeat Wednesday, he said he told executive director Wayne Gretzky several days ago he wouldn't play.
"With the way I have been playing so far and with the young guys we have coming up, I think the best thing to do is to go with ... the young legs," said Lemieux, 40, who cited teammate Sidney Crosby, Carolina's Eric Staal and Ottawa's Jason Spezza.
Canada's roster will be announced Dec.21.
Lemieux, who has seven goals and 14 assists in 25 games, was debating whether to reprise his 2002 role as Canada's captain even before Wednesday. After being monitored for nearly a day, he was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation.
Attending Pittsburgh's game-day practice, Lemieux said he doesn't expect to be out of the lineup long. He called the episode in which he became light-headed and his heart began racing "scary," but was relieved to learn it is common.
"There are a lot of people who have it, and they are able to regulate it with medication," Lemieux said. "So from talking to the doctors and a lot of people who have it, I wouldn't think it's going to have an impact on my life."
[Last modified December 11, 2005, 02:15:36]
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