Mario Lemieux named greatest player in CHL history ahead of Crosby, Gretzky, McDavid

Laval Voisins forward Mario Lemieux (66) leaves Kamloops Junior Oilers defenceman Rob Brown lying on the ice as he spins around during first-period Memorial Cup action in Kitchener, Ont., on May, 15, 1984. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Gary Hershorn)

Mario Lemieux was ranked the greatest player in major junior hockey history as the Canadian Hockey League unveiled its all-time Top 50 list Thursday.

The former Laval Voisins star finished ahead of another Pittsburgh Penguins great in Sidney Crosby (Rimouski Océanic), followed by Wayne Gretzky (Peterborough Petes/Soo Greyhounds), Connor McDavid (Erie Otters) and Mike Bossy (Laval National).

The CHL said the rankings were determined through a combination of media and fan voting as part of the league’s 50th anniversary celebrations.

Lemieux set CHL single-season records with 133 goals and 282 points in 1983-84 while recording a 61-game point streak with Laval.

The Montreal native helped Laval win the 1984 QMJHL championship and recorded 52 points in 14 playoff games that season.

Lemieux later won two Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins and retired with 1,723 points in 915 NHL regular-season games.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 14, 2026.