Pittsburgh Penguins will unveil statue honouring Mario Lemieux on March 7

Pittsburgh Penguins' Mario Lemieux celebrates after Martin Straka scored an overtime goal to lift the Penguins to a 4-3 win over the Washington Capitals in Game 6 of their first-round playoff series in Pittsburgh on Monday, April 23, 2001. The Penguins will unveil a statue honouring former star and current team co-owner Mario Lemieux on March 7. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Keith Srakocic

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - The Pittsburgh Penguins will unveil a statue honouring former star and current team co-owner Mario Lemieux on March 7.

The noontime unveiling of the statue, called "Le Magnifique" outside the northwest gate at Consol Energy Center will be open to the public. The Penguins will host the Toronto Maple Leafs later that night.

Lemieux scored 690 goals and assisted on 1,033 others during his Hall of Fame career, all with Pittsburgh. He led the Penguins to consecutive Stanley Cups in 1991-92. He became part of the ownership group that saved the franchise from relocation.

The bronze statue is designed by sculptor Bruce Wolfe.

The statue was funded privately by the Penguins' ownership group, local labour organizations and members of the Pittsburgh business community.