PHN Extra: Austin Lemieux Gets Tips From Mario ‘Almost Every Day’

CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa. – Among the wide-eyed teenagers at the Pittsburgh Penguins’ annual prospect development camp, there are always a few relative veterans, players who have been through these camps before and know what to expect and what is expected of them.

It might be a little different for one third-year camper this week. After all, his name is on the building where the players are skating. Of course, the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex refers to Penguins co-owner and Hall of Fame center Mario Lemieux. The 22-year-old who is going through drills and coaching is his son, winger Austin Lemieux.

Austin is one of a handful of second-generation guys at camp this year, but none of the others has a dad quite as accomplished in hockey as his.

“I’m just trying to do my own thing,” Austin Lemieux said after the on-ice portion of camp Thursday. “You have the ups and downs of being his son, but it’s great. I just try and be myself every day and see where that goes.”