Flyers fans cheer Mario Lemieux before first retirement - 1997 ECQF Game 5

This video was pulled from Scott Allen Brown's Pittsburgh Penguins Channel's VCR recording of Game 5 of the 1997 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Philadelphia Flyers. Please check out his channel, and the full game is linked on a card which you can see by clicking on the info button on the top right of the video player. I wanted to upload this because this was truly a great moment.
Flyers fans honored Lemieux, playing in his last game before his (first) retirement, with an incredible standing ovation. He had announced he would retire after the 1997 Playoffs, and the Flyers won this series 4-1.

[@philly_sports1558]

Coming from a Flyers fan who LOATHES the Penguins, it is 100% impossible to hate Mario. Dude was a warrior.

[@WhyDoIKeepFuckinUp]

Diehard Philly fan here, and I was at this game chanting “Mario”, but this video doesn’t show the main part of the chant, which I found disappointing.

[@MMGJ10]

As a Pens fan, who has hated the Flyers forever, twice you guys have shown amazing class in cheering and applauding for him. Other than that you guys suck though 🖕 Lmao

[@WhyDoIKeepFuckinUp]

@@MMGJ10 Pens showed some class when cheering for Oskar Lindblom. Now let’s get back to battling for that playoff spot.

[@disneyfan8719]

Same here, I'm a Habs fan who loves Patrice Bergeron.

[@occamsox5331]

He had more class than damn near any athlete I can think of. He was so humble, so genuine, and so talented it was dazzling to watch him play hockey. And he was simply better than everyone. He made the amazing look pedestrian. If he payed today, with the more advanced training and medical procedures, he’d be unstoppable. McDavid is great, but he’s not Mario any more than Crosby is/was. Lemieux could take your breath away he was so slick.

[@user-cc4gk6gx6w]

If you don’t love Mario, you don’t love hockey

[@jeenius9664]

Greatest player of all time.

[@sbenn6917]

No doubt.

[@RichardTavilla]

99

[@1bls]

For a Philly fan to cheer is an achievement. To get Philly fans to cheer for an opponent, well that is just impossible. Somehow Super Mario got them to do it. Class act Philly thank you for that.

[@PhillyLeotardo25]

Yeah except they were cheering he was retiring.

[@Beezer1742]

Philly will cheer for Crosby when he goes. They’re the worst fans in the world, but even they’ll recognize greatness.

[@1bls]

@@Beezer1742 well said buddy

[@1bls]

@@PhillyLeotardo25 true, but in a way, that is a compliment

[@ys0ser10usss]

@@PhillyLeotardo25we gave him a standing ovation when he came back from chemo treatment earlier. I wore 66 in youth hockey (88 was taken) because of him. Cheers were genuine

[@georgew2432]

Philly showed tremendous respect on Marios first game back from cancer treatments, even Philly fans wish they had 66.

[@Mach141]

Thats the video clip I cant find anywhere! I would love to relive it.

[@broadstreetbullies849]

Who didn't?

[@thebighurt3172]

If Mario didn’t have health issues you can bet he would have the record of most goals in history. In 915 games he has 690 goals. Gretzky played 1487 to get 894. Currently, Ovechkin has 763 goals in 1251 games. Exactly!! Mario is a scoring beast!

[@joeytomaselli112]

Well said my friend

[@mayavenuemisfit814]

I always wonder what could have been had Mario been able to play a long, healthy career. But the fact that he did all of that while battling debilitating back problems and fighting cancer.. the man is a legend. Straight and simple. There will never be another hockey player like Super Mario.

[@sonic-qh7ed]

greatest of all time. he made everything look so easy.

[@Mike7911779]

He said the last couple years were frustrating to him. His level of play wasn't what he wanted. He had led the league in points both seasons. 146 Games, 119 Goals, 164 Assists, 283 Points. UNREAL

[@bobbycurtain]

He was something else

[@WhyDoIKeepFuckinUp]

I know, that cracks me up.

[@jeenius9664]

With a broken back... Imagine him being top shape all his career.

[@Mike7911779]

Mario's 1988-89 amazing 199 point season, his forwards were Rob Brown 115, Dan Quinn 94, Bob Errey 58, John Cullen 49, Randy Cunneyworth 44 and Phil Bourque 43. We know now Brown and Quinn has those point totals from having the privilege of being on the ice with Mario that season. My point is, he had 199 points with 3rd line-IHL quality forwards as teammates. If had the line-mates like most other top teams that season, he might have had 250 points.

[@That90sShow]

And 8 years later the NHL changed multiple rules to open up the game and get rid of the clutch and grab era.

[@crushit9576]

3 years later... Came back and had a point 33 seconds in LOL

[@jamesrolley8244]

Little did Ron Hextall know he was shaking the hand of his future boss

[@WhyDoIKeepFuckinUp]

Lol, 24 years later

[@MMGJ10]

And John Leclair was shaking the hand of his future teammate. Lol

[@MrBusterpalmer]

Lol right

[@WhyDoIKeepFuckinUp]

And now Hextall brought Jeff Carter to Pittsburgh. Lame.

[@jonc4261]

And now Ron Hextall is gone

[@northernassassin6056]

Eric Lindros was a very big man, he looked small next to Lemieux. Pretty crazy.

[@SouthP17CD]

Philly fans can be quite rambunctious, but show them a player who will play hard and fight even harder, and they will honor them for the rest of time.

[@electricfuturegod9451]

Man,this makes me have so much respect for the fans/people of Philadelphia.This was a true show of class! Flyers fans and Penguin fans need to come together as Pennsylvanian brothers and sisters and bond over hatred of the Washington Capitals!!

[@broadstreetbullies849]

I'd personally prefer to focus our hate on the Rangers

[@jmar5785]

Chills. The greatest most gifted hockey player of all time.

[@KingHayabusa384]

It's impossible to hate Mario. Great player and an all around amazing guy.

[@kevinb2844]

Philly fans know greatness.

[@LiterallyGod]

Than why do they hate Crosby

[@MMGJ10]

@@LiterallyGod Your God. You tell us?!

[@LiterallyGod]

@@MMGJ10 because they are bitter people

[@aprev039]

Crosby is a whiny bitch. Lemieux was tough after what he went through.

[@LiterallyGod]

@@aprev039 hes better than that waste of talent giroux and has completely owned the flyers for his whole career. The flyers are a trash organization thats why they cant win and the pens have like 3 ships in the last 20 years. Suck it

[@Looter217]

As a Pens fan, gotta give credit where credit is due. Philly fans really respected the loss of a legend. Also, gotta respect arguably the greatest rivalry in the NHL!

[@framneck28]

Say what you will about philly fans. They recognize, respect a legend.

[@michellezirngibl78]

Best there ever was

[@jasonplunkett6636]

Le Magnifique ! The greatest to EVER lace them up ! Simplement Le Meilleur!

[@jonathankubacki7446]

Only 66 can get a standing ovation in Philly hate the Flyers but class act by the fans at this game

[@misterlumbago]

People love to give philly fans hate but these are the moments they don’t want you to see

[@apelletier1886]

For all their bum rep, this wasn't even the first time that the Philly crowd gave Lemieux a standing ovation. He also got one a few years before at the Spectrum, on the night he came back from his chemotherapy treatment.

[@WhyDoIKeepFuckinUp]

It weird, though. The main part must have got cut off of the video. I was there and the “Mario” chant was super loud and clear, and went on for a long time. Every single fan in the stands. Mario also skated around more and waved to more fans.

[@MattCProductions_]

@@WhyDoIKeepFuckinUp I pulled this clip from another channel's VCR recording of ESPN's broadcast of the game (linked via card). I included everything from a little after Prospal's ENG until where the broadcast cut to a montage of Lemieux.

[@WhyDoIKeepFuckinUp]

@@MattCProductions_ It must not have been recorded, but I remember it very well.

[@WhyDoIKeepFuckinUp]

I was at this game. It was the best game I’ve seen live. The weird part is that I barely hear the “Mario” chant in this video, but it was extremely loud and went on for a long time. He also skated around the ice more and waved to more fans. I think it got cut out of the video. I promise you that the chant was very clear and very loud and went on and on. It might have been right after the 2nd interview.

[@electricfuturegod9451]

As a lifelong Pens fan I think that was beyond classy of you guys to cheer like that for Mario.You definitely have my respect

[@WhyDoIKeepFuckinUp]

@@electricfuturegod9451 Thank you. I was happy to be apart of it.

[@insaneiaq]

I wish it would have been easier to decipher what the PA announcer was saying. About all I could make out was something about Mario being one of the greatest of all time, but it sounded like he was absolutely singing some praises before that. Even more so than getting the people hyped over their own playoff win.

[@WhyDoIKeepFuckinUp]

@@insaneiaq I normally would have heard the broadcast, but since I was actually there, I didn’t get to live. I’m not sure exactly what he said. But you bring up a good point. We had just advanced in the playoffs, yet we were celebrating his career. Even as a young teen, I knew it was the right thing to do.

[@chrisbelos2834]

he did came back and it was glorious.

[@christopherzamias8431]

From Western, Pa but I do a lot of work in Philadelphia. Love Philadelphia and, frankly, their fans are some of the best when it comes to recognition of elite players. Lucky to have these great franchises in the state of Pennsylvania. I’d be remised if I didn’t say that, while I love the Steelers, since they aren’t in the playoffs, I’m cheering for the Eagles to win the Super Bowl! Let’s keep the championships in PA!

[@MoCatt]

I remember this game very distinctly and I named my new kitten "Mario" because of it. :)

[@WhyDoIKeepFuckinUp]

I was there. I’m a Flyers fan, and I chanted “Mario” for several minutes. However, they don’t show the main part of the chant in this video.

[@robertosavard6750]

Le plus grand talent de hockey de toute l histoire 🤩🤩🤩

[@laalki80]

In Philly no less. 88 thanked you lot for being all there for 66. I just love it.

[@vanillagorilla8236]

And they call us Philly fans the worst ? After he came back from cancer Philly gave him a standing ovation then also.

[@PHuckinCHAMPS26]

Crazy he came back until 03-04 or 05-06

[@christophflock1921]

goosebumps

[@cfresh93]

Simply magical

[@feedstacker]

I hate Philly as a Pens fan... BUT, class act Philly... class act, gotta give you guys respect for this one

[@vanillagorilla8236]

It will never happen for crosby in Philly I can tell.you that much lol.

[@tommyettinger1353]

Probably won't but he did help get some more cup rings for some ex flyers including Rick tocchet that you guys could at the very least appreciate

[@vanillagorilla8236]

Not that I want him to get cancer either, I hate him but I'm not a douchebag...

[@sametozkan9175]

1:50 GOATS

[@earlviney5212]

You gotta hand it to philly fans their tough but they know greatness

[@chrisolivo6591]

I was at that game and also at Lemieux’s return game in Philly from Cancer. As much as I hated the Rangers, Islanders, Devils, Capitals and Penguins growing up (The old Patrick Division) you still respected the hell out of guys like Stevens, Lemieux, Bossy, Brodeur, Leetch, Richter. I still say Lemieux was as great as Gretzky.

[@MattCProductions_]

I wasn't born until after the 90's so I didn't watch those players live. All those players listed seem like players you have to respect, but was it the same for Stevens? I've heard all the "dirty" and "headhunter" comments from fans for a lot of his hits (e.g. Kariya, Lindros), but I wasn't watching live then to get the sentiment myself. Was Stevens seen as dirty back in the day?

[@chrisolivo6591]

@@MattCProductions_ Stevens was a head hunter but it was legal back then. Concussions weren’t looked at like they are now. Back then they said you got your bell rung, and most guys would play the next game. Primeau’s career ended early because he came back too soon after a 2nd concussion and then had post concussion issues. My nephew played for Keith Primeau at Bidhop Eustace, and he said sometimes he would be cutting an apple and forget what he was doing and wondering why he was holding a knife? I still respected Stevens because he would go toe to toe with any player. He would fight Lindros even though Lindros had the height, weight and reach on him. Those Flyers/Devils battles in the 90’s were exactly what the Flyers/Pens rivalry was during the Crosby era. The teams hated each other and it was going to be a nasty series. It’s a shame the NHL changed the schedule after expansion as we used to play more division games. I could care less about playing the Jets and Coyotes twice a year, give me the Rangers, Pens and Devils 7 games each a year.

[@MattCProductions_]

@@chrisolivo6591 Ah okay thanks for the insight! I knew about the view on concussions shifting over the years (for both NHL and NFL), so I figured that would factor in. The fearless aspect was also a good point. But that point about Primeau is kind of scary to me, but I guess that's the sacrifice and risk that these athletes take. It's always fun watching his highlights. Honestly, highlights from '97 - '04 are fun to watch for me, which I guess is why it dominates my channel haha. Hopefully the Flyers will be competitive once they're on the other side of this down period.

[@chrisolivo6591]

@@MattCProductions_I really hope Briere/Jones can bring the Flyers back to prominence. It kills me that we lost a generation of fans in the past decade. To see the Flyers become irrelevant in the city is sad. The NHL needs the Flyers to be good as we always bring national TV ratings because we’re so hated. Lol. The Broad Street Bullies were before my time, but older hockey fans outside of Philly despise the Flyers back then and their hatred never stopped. Lol. I think the new Flyers management understands how the Dave Scott/Valerie Camillo regime totally alienated the fanbase. For first time in a decade, it feels like they have a plan. As for the head hunting back then, the player who took the hit because they had their head down was considered more at fault. Nobody even went after Stevens after he knocked out Lindros in Game 7, as the talk the next day was that Lindros had skated with his head down his whole career and it was eventually going to catch up with him. It was just the times.

[@sniper161718]

Says a lot when Philly fans cheer for a player in Pittsburgh. That's how much of an impact he had

[@theoldboy70]

Even those Jagoffs can show some class when it comes to Le Magnifique, must be the Pennsylvania air reaching all the way to the east side.

[@CjSmitty]

283 pts in 146 games in 95/96-96/97 and he says he’s frustrated with not having his A game lol. I know he had medical issues but damn those numbers.

[@3ggymania]

... and they said Philly sports fans weren't classy.

[@hughjass8383]

I wonder if they'll ever do this to Crosby

[@ericmaloney3889]

1:53 "The next one" part didn't age well.

[@WhyDoIKeepFuckinUp]

He was the next one. He was the most dominant player in the ice every night. His career was cut short.

[@mayavenuemisfit814]

Lindros very well could have been "The Next One", had it not been for multiple concussions that sidelined him numerous times. Not to mention the fact that Bobby Clarke and the Flyers' organization very nearly killed him. Keith Jones insisting that he go to to a Nashville emergency room saved 88's life when he was suffering from a collapsed lung and internal bleeding.

[@jcv_7690]

jagr still plays because of mario 100%

[@ranjodhsidhu9240]

If he didn’t retire early I think he could have passed Gretzky for most goals

[@1bls]

True, also if he didn’t get injured so much or get cancer.

[@danieldagenais7945]

When he retired he was at 2.00pts/game and .82goal Gretzky was at .64goals and 1.92pts

[@Slipknot5301]

@@danieldagenais7945 lemieux retired at age 31. when gretzky was 31 his ppg was 2.26

[@danieldagenais7945]

Like i said , Gretzky never had cancer and à back infection in he's career and was way way way better sourrounded to protect him...Lemieux was 33 when he retired btw..and came back at 36 after a 3 years break so he's Son can see him play the game and still was DOMINANT

[@That90sShow]

No. He missed too much time from injury and had to play the dead puck, trap era.

[@215_Philly_4for4]

Never wanna hear a damn thing about how bad Philly fans are again.

[@MMGJ10]

You suck and your whole communist run city sucks.

[@215_Philly_4for4]

@@MMGJ10 talking about sports here, my clearly-offended guy.

[@electricfuturegod9451]

As a lifelong Pens fan I can say I'll never say a bad thing about Philly fans.I stopped hating the Flyers a long time ago after my hatred of the Capitals took over! Every time I've been to Philly I've had a blast and the people were cool to me,that "Censorship Sucks" is a fool

[@coreyhower2727]

“I’ll be in Florida” lol

[@TommyC503]

It’s awesome that these cheers for Mario eventually birthed Sidney Crosby who has embarrassed these filthy animals time after time!

[@mpuchar5003]

who did he give his stick to

[@MattCProductions_]

mpuchar I believe he handed his stick off to Penguins equipment manager Steve Latin. I looked up the 96-97 team photo and looked at the people not wearing jerseys who had mustaches. I saw one guy with a mustache that looked like the man at the beginning of this vid, and matched his position in the photo with the names listed.

[@mpuchar5003]

@@MattCProductions_ Thanks bud

[@Mach141]

Now I know why he had to come back. His last game was not going to be in that RoboPenguin jersey!

[@landshark616]

Dam they don’t market nhl players there is no face of the nhl .. Mario and those guys were marketable ..

[@och70]

Al Morganti sounds like Kermit The Frog.

[@hugh2hoob668]

1:51 1:51

[@mor9n243]

1:28 1:28 😅

[@HockeyGUY66871]

Phily fans are always completely classless but not that night. Thats the only time Philly fans were classy.