Hello Lemieux Hockey Campers!

We are just two months away from the 2024 Mario Lemieux Fantasy Hockey Camp, March 9-14, and I am excited to send out the following update:

Payment

I will continue to process payments and reach out individually with any questions or to make payment arrangements outside the regularly scheduled credit card payments.

Please contact me if you would like to pay by check or give a new credit card, otherwise your credit card on file will be charged on the following dates:

-$2,500 on January 10, 2024 (I will be processing payments today and tomorrow)

-remaining balance on February 7, 2024

The full amount must be paid by February 7, 2024.

Please contact me if you would like to make your Camp payment in full or would like to adjust the payment schedule in any way. I have made arrangements with some of you to pay final balances in March.

From this point forward, all Camp payments are non-refundable.

Stick Order Form

Each Lemieux Camp participant will receive a custom Warrior LX2 Pro Stick as part of your camp package.

Please follow this link to submit the stick order form by January 18:

Stick Order Form - 2024 Lemieux Camp

Even if you have attended in the past and previously ordered a stick, please still complete the order form. This makes it easier on Warrior to correctly make your stick to your specifications!

Additional sticks are available at a special Lemieux Camp discounted rate of $195. Please specify on the form how many additional sticks you want. The cost for additional sticks will be added to your final Camp balance.

GOALIES - you do not need to fill out this stick order form. I will send you an email directly to order your goalie stick.

Camp Schedule and General Information

General Camp schedule is below - there have been some updates since last month:

Saturday, March 9

4:00pm – Arrivals and hotel check-in - Marriott

7:00-10:00pm – Equipment and Apparel Distribution - Marriott

Sunday, March 10

Breakfast and Welcome Reception - Marriott

1:00pm – Penguins Game vs. the Edmonton Oilers in Group Party Suite

Contract Signing with Mario Lemieux

Evening Team Practice Sessions at PPG Paints Arena

Monday, March 11

Camp Hockey at PPG Paints Arena (two games per team)

Evening Event - Duquesne Club

Tuesday, March 12

Camp Hockey at PPG Paints Arena (one game per team)

Evening Event - Rivers Casino

Wednesday, March 13

Camp Hockey at PPG Paints Arena (two games per team)

Closing Party - Lexus Club, PPG Paints Arena

Thursday, March 14

Departures

Camp will officially start on Saturday, March 9. Please plan to arrive to the Marriott City Center Pittsburgh by the afternoon of 3/9. Standard hotel check-in is 4:00pm. If you need to arrive earlier in the day, please let me know, and I will request an early check-in for you.

We have a casual dinner and equipment/apparel distribution planned for 7:00-10:00pm.

The final day of Camp hockey and the closing party will be March 13. Please schedule departures for any time on March 14. There are no official Camp events on March 14, other than breakfast.

All Camp games will be played at PPG Paints Arena. We are planning five games and one practice session for each team.

Spectators are welcome at PPG Paints Arena to watch Camp games. We will give you further instruction for spectators as we get closer to the event.

Please provide the following information to dparish@mlf66.org as soon as possible:

1. Flight Information

The Lemieux Camp provides transportation to and from the airport. In order to schedule these pickups, I need the following info for campers and guests who are flying in for Camp:

-Arrival: flight time, flight number, airline and departing airport

-Departure: flight time, flight number, airline and arriving airport

2. Estimated Arrival Time

For campers and guests who are driving in for Camp, please provide your estimated arrival time. Parking at the Marriott is included as part of your Camp fee.

3. Jersey Numbers

Please provide your top three jersey number choices. We will do our best to make sure that all campers receive one of their three choices. Returning campers will have the chance to keep their number from last year.

4. Guests

The Camp guest fee this year is $5,266. A down payment of $1,000 is due when the guest is registered. This down payment is non-refundable. All Campers are allowed a maximum of one Camp guest. All guests must be age 21 or over.

All Camp guests will receive apparel and are able to participate in all Camp events except for playing in games and being in the Camp locker rooms. To register a guest, please contact me with your guest’s name, email address and shirt size. Deadline to register an official Camp guest is January 11.

5. Extra Hotel Nights

Our host hotel is the Marriott City Center Pittsburgh, located next to PPG Paints Arena. Five hotel nights (March 9, 10, 11, 12 & 13) are included in the cost of Camp. If you need extra hotel nights on March 8 or 14, we are offering a special Camp rate of $199 per night. Please contact me to book those extra nights. Any extra hotel charges will be added to your final Camp payment. You do not need to contact the Marriott or make any additional payments through the hotel.

6. Team Requests

If you would like to be placed on the same team as another Camper, please let me know as soon as possible. We will do our best to accommodate these requests and work them into the process of creating teams. Family member requests will be given priority when creating teams.

Camp Jerseys and Equipment

The 2024 Lemieux Camp will feature uniforms and apparel based on the 1987 Canada Cup Team Canada jerseys! See the images above for the new 2024 Lemieux Camp logo based on the famous Canada Cup logo from 1987 and pictures of Mario from the 87 Canada Cup. We are creating custom jerseys and equipment to match those uniforms to commemorate one of the most famous teams and tournaments from Mario’s storied career.

To summarize, Campers will receive the following equipment and apparel:

• 1987 Canada Cup Team Canada home and away jerseys.
• Hockey pants– we will provide hockey pants in the 87 Canada Cup design. We will have some shells available if you prefer to wear your pants. We want everyone to wear the new Camp pants or shell so everyone matches.
• Custom Warrior stick for each camper– you will receive a separate email from me in the next few weeks with an order form for your custom stick. The sticks will be delivered to the Lemieux Foundation and distributed at Camp. You will also have the opportunity to order additional custom sticks at a special discounted rate.
• Helmet – Warrior
• Gloves – Warrior
• Socks – 87 Canada Cup home and away
• Equipment bag – Warrior (goalies will receive a goalie bag)
• Apparel – you will receive a mix of Mario Lemieux Fantasy Hockey Camp and Pittsburgh Penguins apparel
• Additional surprise items!

PLEASE NOTE: Campers should bring all of their equipment as if they are going to their regular adult league games. Remember, we do not provide skates or pads.

After you receive your new Camp equipment, you will be asked to assemble your new hockey bag for the Camp games. We require that you use the Camp-issued bag.

Jason Binnie, our Head Equipment Manager, and his team will be available during registration to make any adjustments to your new helmet and collect your skates for sharpening. Also, if you need any additional equipment, visors, or sticks for camp, please contact Jason at jason@binnieshockey.com. All payment for these special equipment requests should be handled through Jason.

Laundry

The Camp will provide laundry service for all hockey undergarments (not jerseys) on the nights of 3/10, 3/11 and 3/12. However, since you will be on the ice two times each day of Camp, we still recommend you bring multiple pairs of undergarments to wear under your equipment.

Camp Credential

All Camp participants will receive a Camp credential. You must wear this credential at all times, as you will need it for access to all Camp functions. 

I have had a few questions about Camp Guests and who is allowed to attend the Camp and the auxiliary functions. Only Campers and paying guests (those who have paid a fee of $5,266) with the appropriate credential can attend Lemieux Hockey Camp functions. This includes all meal functions. Please do not bring other family members, children, etc. to these events, as they will not be permitted access. No exceptions.

Game Spectators

If you have friends and family who want to watch the Camp games from the stands, they are welcome to attend. You only need to provide me with the number of people you expect to attend, so we can communicate with PPG Paints Arena on how many to expect.  I will provide more information like entry gates and times in the next email update.

Media Shoot

Each camper will get a video headshot to be used on the big screen at PPG Paints Arena during the Championship and Consolation Camp Games. The video headshot will be taken on Monday, March 11 from 12:30-2:30 PM, scheduled by team. We recommend Campers wear jerseys and shoulder pads, but feel free to express yourself! This video headshot will be included in the video package you receive after Camp.

Open Skate for Campers and Guests

We have reserved ice time at PPG Paints Arena on Wednesday, March 13, from 1:30-2:30 for an open skate. Campers and paying guests are welcome to skate on the ice and take pictures. Skate rental will not be available, so guests will need to bring their own skates if they want to participate. Please note – this open skate is for campers and paying guests only – no exceptions. Guests must sign a waiver.

Dietary Restrictions

If you have any dietary restrictions, please let me know in advance so we can plan for your meals.

Captains and Coaches

Each team will have at least two skating pros (captains) and two coaches. Announcing the first group of captains and coaches for the 2024 Camp:

Captains

Nine-Year NHL Veteran and Current Television Analyst – Colby Armstrong

Four-Time Stanley Cup Champion and Hockey Hall of Famer - Larry Murphy

11-Year NHL Veteran and Stanley Cup Champion – Maxime Talbot

Coaches

Two-Time Stanley Cup Champion - Pierre Larouche

Television Analyst and Stanley Cup Champion as an Assistant Coach with the Penguins – Pierre McGuire

Hockey Hall of Famer and Two-Time Stanley Cup Champion - Craig Patrick

We will continue to announce captains and coaches over the next two months.

We are also working to create a 2024 Lemieux Camp App that all participants and guests will be able to download. We expect to have that information to you by February 1 so you can interact with other campers for a month leading up to Camp.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me on my cell phone at 412-401-3866 or dparish@mlf66.org.

Thank you, and I look forward to seeing everyone in March!

Drew

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