As we all know, this is the final season for our beloved arena. Whether you call it Mellon Arena or the Civic Arena as I still do, you definitely know it as the Igloo. The place has been around since 1961 and was the first arena in the world to have a fully retractable roof. It has housed some of the greatest hockey teams, players, basketball games, boxing matches, and concerts from the past 49 years. It has even been used in the filming of a few movies. But it was first built for the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera. You heard it, the Igloo is an opera house. I decided to look up a list of the great events that have taken place at the Arena and was shocked to see some of the names. As far as concerts go, listen to this lineup: Frank Sinatra, The Rolling Stones, The Doors, Aerosmith, The Beatles, Elvis Presley, Garth Brooks, The Ramones, Kiss, Queen, The Grateful Dead, and Kenny Rogers. I would give my right arm to see a few of those acts, alive or dead. Muhammad Ali fought at the Igloo, as well as Sonny Liston and Sugar Ray Robinson. The first ever high school all-star basketball game was played there in 1965 and remained annually until 1992. The University of Pittsburgh, Duquesne University, the Pittsburgh Pipers, the Pittsburgh Condors, and even the Harlem Globetrotters have hooped at the Arena. It has even held the World Team Tennis Championship as well as the 1983 World Figure Skating Championships. The Arena also played host to the 1997 and 2002 NCAA basketball tourney's first and second round games. And let's not forget the countless WWF/WWE shows that have been through that place, including several pay per views, (Summer Slam 1995... I was there!)
But let's get back to its main use, hockey. the Pittsburgh Hornets of the AHL played in Oakland for 20 seasons before the Civic Arena opened in September of 1961. But then came the NHL expansion of 1967 and the birth of the Penguins. I thought a fitting tribute to the Arena would be to look at some of the best moments that ever happened there. Here are some that I came up with. Most involve Mario so if you are under the age of 30 you may have no idea what I'm talking about.
Ron Hextall chasing Robbie Brown: This is a classic. In a playoff game against Philly, Rob Brown scores a goal to make it 9-2 Pens. Flyers goalie Ron Hextall takes some umbrage to Brown's celebration and chased him around the ice. It was hilarious but it did fire up the Cryers. They mounted a huge comeback but still came up short, losing the game 10-7.
Mario's Return: For my money one of the top five sports moments, period. Dec. 27 2000 Mario Lemieux comes back from missing over three full seasons scores a goal and two assists. It was like he never left. He finished the season with 35 goals and 41 assists... in 43 games! That's 76 points in about half of a season.
1992 Stanley Cup Finals, Game 1: It's easier to just put this whole game on the list because three different things happened that could have been on the list. The Pens came back from a 4-1 deficit. Jaromir Jagr scored an amazing goal, stick handling around the entire Blackhawks team from the far boards, all the way across the front of the net and blowing a backhander by Ed Belfour. And finally Mario scoring the game winner with less than 20 seconds left in the game. It was an instant Pittsburgh classic.
Mario's goal in the '91 Cup Finals: This is the signature, get you up out of your seat, goal in Mario's career. Carries the puck from between his own circles, right down the middle of the ice, jumps and splits the defense, stops on a dime and slides it past the goalie on the backhand. It was amazing, but it was easy money for Mario. Without a doubt the greatest breakaway scorer in history.
Five goals, Five different ways: New Year's Eve 1988, Mario scores even strength, on the power play, short handed, on a penalty shot, and empty net... in the same game. I actually attended this game with my parents. I was five, but I was there for history baby!
I am sure there are a million others that are worthy of this list, but I decided to keep the new guys out of this one. Besides, those are some of my favorites. One day when we are looking back at the greatest moments in Consol Energy Center history I am certain we will speak of Sid the Kid the same way we speak of Le Magnifique at the Igloo. We will be telling our kids about Crosby and Malkin, or Staal and Fleury the same way they tell us about Lemieux and Barrasso, or Coffey and Jagr. It will be a bittersweet day when the Arena is brought down because a lot of memories will go with it, and I only remember things from the late 80s on so I'm missing the first thirty years or so. All I know is that when the oldest barn in the league is demolished, a lot of great hockey, and heroes will go down with it.
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