Lemieux Tops Gretzky as All-Star Starter

Pittsburgh center Mario Lemieux led all players with 247,222 votes in balloting by fans to select the starting lineup for the National Hockey League All-Star team that will play two games against the Soviet Union Feb. 11 and 13 at Rendez-Vous ’87 in Quebec.

Lemieux beat out Edmonton’s Wayne Gretzky, widely acknowledged as the NHL’s best player, as the starting center. Gretzky finished with 212,246 votes, the league said Friday.

Gretzky said: “My record through the years and my two Stanley Cups speak for themselves and if some people don’t like what I do on the ice, there is nothing I can do about it.”

Despite the slight, Gretzky is expected to be added to the NHL roster.

“I think it’s a farce if anyone doesn’t think he’s the best in the league,” Oiler Coach Glen Sather said.

Other starters are Mike Bossy of the New York Islanders at right wing; Michel Goulet of Quebec at left wing; defensemen Paul Coffey of Edmonton and Mark Howe of Philadelphia, and goalie Clint Malarchuk of Quebec.