There have been a multitude of storylines coming out of the DCU Center this season, but none has been bigger than Claude Lemieux’s return to professional hockey.

 

The four-time Stanley Cup champion and Conn Smythe Trophy winner made his first American professional hockey appearance in five years and first AHL appearance since 1986 with the Worcester Sharks this season. Lemieux is a 20-year NHL veteran who has played with Montreal, New Jersey, Colorado, Phoenix and Dallas.  He is one of only eight players in NHL history to win the Stanley Cup with three different teams (Montreal, New Jersey, Colorado).

 

So far, Lemieux has 4 points (2 goals and 2 assists), including the game-winning goal against Portland on Sunday. The right wing is +3 and has registered 2 penalty minutes.

The six-foot, 215-pound Lemieux has posted 785 points (379 goals, 406 assists) and 1756 penalty minutes in 1197 NHL games.  In 233 Stanley Cup playoff games, he added 158 points (80 goals, 78 assists) and 529 penalty minutes.  His 80 Stanley Cup playoff goals rank him ninth all-time in NHL history.

 

Be sure to catch Lemieux in action as the Sharks will host Springfield on Wednesday, December 10^th for “Guaranteed Lights Night” in a makeup of the postponed November 15^th contest. The first 500 fans in attendance will receive a free Worcester Sharks flashlight sponsored by Office Depot, and if the lights stay on for the entirety of the game, each fan will receive a free ticket voucher for an upcoming Sharks home game. Tickets issued for the original date will be honored on December 10^th or may be exchanged for tickets to any future Sharks home game this season.

 

The Sharks will then play three games in three nights, beginning with a trip to Hartford on December 12^th (7:00p.m.). Worcester will then travel to Lowell on Saturday, December 13 (7:00p.m.) before returning home to the DCU Center for a Sunday contest (Dec. 14) against Hartford at 4:05p.m.

 

All games can be heard live on 580 & 94.9 WTAG as well as online through AHL Live by following the link on the Sharks website, www.sharksahl.com.

 

Be sure not to miss any of the action of the 2008-09 Worcester Sharks season and buy your tickets today! Fans can also purchase tickets to the 2009 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Charter Communications. Purchases can be made by visiting the box office, contacting the Worcester Sharks office at 508.929.0500, or by crashing the net at www.sharksahl.com