League Feels a Chill : Hockey: Stunning news of Lemieux’s condition shakes NHL officials.

This was not the way NHL officials planned to draw attention to their sport. They had a new cable television contract enabling them to reach more homes, a revised set of rules designed to streamline the game, an able man poised to assume the duties of commissioner and another round of expansion on the horizon. Although they hadn’t committed themselves to a catchy phrase in the manner of the New York Islanders, there were reasons to believe this was the start of a new ice age.

Alas, the chill that swept over the league Wednesday had nothing to do with refrigeration. It was the result of a statement issued by the two-time defending champion Pittsburgh Penguins that Mario Lemieux was suffering from Hodgkin’s disease, a form of cancer. The team said that because the lymphoma was caught at an early stage, it was optimistic about his chance for full recovery and even speculated that he may return to uniform in four to six weeks. Still, this was the outstanding player in the sport and the news was stunning, particularly to those who learned of it in an offhand manner.

The latter included Gil Stein, the NHL president who was instrumental in the adoption of the rules curtailing clutching and grabbing. He had been flying back from California in the company of Gary Bettman, the NBA executive who is scheduled to become the NHL’s first commissioner on Feb. 1, at the time of the announcement. “When I arrived at my apartment house in Manhattan,” Stein recalled, “the doorman told me about it. Since it was after midnight, I couldn’t call anyone.”

He said his anxiety was relieved Wednesday after consulting with the Penguins. “Mostly, I’m concerned about Mario’s morale,” he said. “I don’t know him that well. But I’ll be in Pittsburgh Friday and I hope to talk to him before the press conference.”

Although the disease is treatable and may not prevent Lemieux from participating in the Stanley Cup playoffs, the disclosure of the ailment was as startling as Magic Johnson’s disclosure that he was HIV positive, as sudden as the collision that left Dennis Byrd partially paralyzed. While hockey long has sought parity with pro basketball and football in the United States, it had no desire to compete with those tragedies.

“Sports is the real world,” said Bettman, who watched the Johnson saga unfold as Commissioner David Stern’s chief lieutenant at the NBA. “The realities of life intrude on sports.”

The commissioner-elect said he spoke with Lemieux by telephone Wednesday and that the highest-paid, most compelling performer in the sport sounded upbeat. Thoughts of the ESPN contract, the fragility of the NHL’s elite (Wayne Gretzky was sidelined for eight months by a back injury that threatened his career) and the overall economic health of the league were pushed to the background. “My first thoughts are with Mario and his family,” Bettman said. “So are my second and third thoughts.”

But if the NHL is to market its sport more effectively, it needs superstars such as Lemieux to carry the load. Despite a history of back problems, the 27-year-old center appeared just to be entering his prime and with his team on the verge of dynasty status. Even if he returns in uniform this season, there’s no telling if he will be the same dominating presence.

This isn’t only a blow to the Penguins, but to all of hockey, suggested Bryan Trottier, a teammate of Lemieux during the two championship seasons. “You’re taking away a guy who is not only one of the best players of all time, but one of the players people most enjoy watching,” said Trottier, executive assistant to the president of the Islanders.

The history of hockey is replete with enduring stars such as Gordie Howe, Jean Beliveau and Bobby Hull, all of whom transcended generations. Even the likes of Bobby Orr and Mike Bossy, whose careers were cut short by hockey-related injuries, lasted for a decade. Lemieux’s condition is unprecedented for an premier player in the NHL.

“You’re dealing with a league that has a lot of talented players,” Bettman said. “My goal is to see that people in North America know more about all our players. The burden of a Gretzky, a Lemieux, a Brett Hull, a Mark Messier will be lessened. Not that I think those four are as well known as they should be.”

Lemieux has another burden now. Even if he beats the disease, there always will be questions about his health. He is not the most gregarious of men under the best of circumstances. He is no Magic Johnson when it comes to public forums.

“He’s a need-to-know type of guy,” Trottier said. “If he thinks you need to know something, he’ll tell you. I would say he is semi-reserved, almost suspicious until he gets to know you. But he is generous beyond his own good with teammates.”

The man led the Penguins to two Stanley Cups largely by example. They played without him in significant stretches in both those seasons because of injuries. But this is such a different and difficult situation that it’s virtually impossible to glean how the team will react to his absence. “We could analyze this to death,” Trottier said, “but even Mario probably wouldn’t be able to answer it.”

He did know Lemieux will be missed by virtually everyone associated with the sport. “The whole hockey world -- and I think I can speak for the whole hockey world on this -- wishes him the best,” said his friend, former opponent, and teammate.