Lemieux Issues Statement Slamming NHL Discipline

In the wake of a brawl-filled contest on Long Island, the Hall of Famer says he has to reconsider whether he wants to remain part of the game.

There are few people in hockey more respected than former all-star and current Pittsburgh Penguins owner Mario Lemieux, so his public statement ripping the NHL’s failure to discipline its players poses a real dilemma for a league notorious for dismissing its critics. The statement came after a game between Lemieux’s Penguins and the New York Islanders Friday devolved into a violent farce when a huge brawl broke out, resulting in 10 ejections and 346 penalty minutes. While the league had the option to suspend the players involved, only three faced supplementary discipline. “If the events relating to Friday night reflect the state of the league, I need to rethink whether I want to be a part of it,” Lemieux said.