Lemieux fine with Islanders' Ho-Sang wearing No. 66
Much ado about nothing.
That's what hockey legend and Pittsburgh Penguins owner Mario Lemieux believes is being made of New York Islanders rookie forward Josh Ho-Sang donning his iconic No. 66 on the back of his jersey.
"I'm fine with it," Lemieux said Thursday through a Penguins spokesperson, according to Joe Starkey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "It's just a number. No. 4 and No. 9 were worn by great players (Bobby Orr and Gordie Howe, respectively), and they are not retired forever. Players can choose whatever number they want."
Ho-Sang, for the record, has said he wears 66 to honor Lemieux, and he's free to do so as the number, unlike Wayne Gretzky's 99, hasn't been retired across the NHL.
Many have and continue to wear Howe's and Orr's numbers, and therefore Lemieux's is fair game as well, although only one player (T.J. Brodie of the Calgary Flames in 2011) had chosen it prior to Ho-Sang since the Penguins great retired in 2006.
Ho-Sang, for his part, appreciated Lemieux's comments.
Josh Ho-Sang on Mario's comments: "I’m very grateful that he [said what he said]. It definitely takes a lot of heat off of me."
— Jason Mackey (@JMackeyPG) March 24, 2017
Ho-Sang (cont'd): "It’s nice that he even acknowledged it. Moving forward, I hope that’s enough for people."
— Jason Mackey (@JMackeyPG) March 24, 2017
The Islanders visit Pittsburgh on Friday, where No. 66 will take to the ice once again, and with no offense taken by Lemieux.