Mario Lemieux isn't saving his hockey comeback just for the NHL. Super Mario is also returning to the Canadian Olympic hockey team for the 2002 Winter Games.
Lemieux was the headliner of the eight players selected to the star-studded squad by the Canadian Hockey Association Friday. Also picked for Team Canada were standouts Paul Kariya, Rob Blake, Scott Niedermayer, Chris Pronger, Owen Nolan, Joe Sakic and Steve Yzerman.
As well as naming the first eight players, CHA executive director Wayne Gretzky announced that Lemieux will be the Canadian captain.
"Mario is a true leader, a player our whole team will look to for leadership," said Gretzky. "This being said, Mario will also be surrounded by leaders as seven of the eight players have been captains in the NHL."
Team USA will announce its original batch of players — between eight and 12 — today. Each Olympic team will eventually beef up its squad to a total of 23 players.