Former pro to hold clinic for Glenwood youth hockey

GLENWOOD SPRINGS — Mario Lemieux is one of the best players ever to play in the NHL. The Hall of Famer ranks seventh all-time in goals, ninth in assists, and sixth in total points and his career average of .805 goals per game is an NHL record.

The star credits some of his hockey education to his older brother Alain Lemieux, who played seven seasons in the NHL and coached in the East Coast Hockey League.

“I learned a lot just by watching him when I was young,” Mario said about Alain to hhof.com just before the 2002 All-Star Game.

Now Alain will be bringing his knowledge to Glenwood Springs to put on a clinic for Glenwood Springs Youth Hockey Association coaches and players Monday through Thursday. Alain is the founder of the Alain Lemieux Hockey Schools, which has

stretched its tutalege all over North America and made Alain one of the elite hockey

instructors on the continent.

“This is a great thing to do for the players to have a guy of his stature come in,” said Larry MacDonald, the former president of GSYHA. “It was an opportunity to give the program a shot in the arm. He can help our coaches improve practices, drills and take things to the next level.”

Alain will be holding clinics for each division of the GSYHA, spending time with the

introductory program, mites, squirts, peewees, bantams and midget major As. All are

slated for a few sessions Monday through Thursday evenings at the Glenwood

Springs Community Center ice rink.

“We are excited for the players to have an ex-NHL player and former college coach on the ice with them,” MacDonald said.

To help offset the costs of the clinic and to help the program make money, Lemieux

will be donating a signed Sydney Crosby jersey to GSYHA. The Grizzlies will then put

the jersey up in a raffle this summer during a golf tournament, where they will sell

tickets for $10.