Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Players that caught my eye in playoffs
In each of the four playoff series, there seemed to be one player on the opposing team that really caught my eye - one player I thought would look good in Penguins Black and Vegas Gold.
Here there are:
Series one - Philadelphia Flyers - Claude Giroux
Of all the Flyers to play round one, it was Claude Giroux that stepped his game up. The Flyers may have lost to the Penguins, but Giroux was the best player for the Flyers in the series and, in more than a few games, was the best player on the ice, Malkin and Crosby included.
The kid was all over the ice - he skates fast, fights, and dangles. Look out for Giroux in the future.
Series two - Washington Capitals - David Steckel
David Steckel is the Jordan Staal of the Washington Capitals. Steckel has the ability to change games. It may not be with big goals or big numbers, but the third-liner's gritty, versatile play at times puts him in a position to be the x-factor.
Steckel was the Caps top faceoff guy, winning the majority of important faceoffs - especially early in the series. He also scored the OT winner in game 6 to force a game 7 in Washington.
Series three - Carolina Hurricanes - Chad LaRose
Though LaRose checks in at 5-foot-10 and 181 pounds, he plays a much bigger game. LaRose is the kind of sparkplug that brings grit to every shift. LaRose's other attributes more than make up for a lack of size.
He's a smart player. He knows the game and studies the game. He's a good skater with good foot speed and he'll play in traffic. He'll do the necessary things to be successful.
Round four - Detroit Red Wings - Darren Helm
This guy is one speedy mofo. He was always seeming to beat Penguins to loose pucks, or was blowing by defensemen consistently. He was also very effective along the boards.
Helm is a hard worker with some skill, but is undersized. Good skater with good hands. Plays big.
Pens names that will be on the Cup
From Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
In the moments after the 87th game of the 2009 NHL postseason, Penguins star Sidney Crosby, who wears No. 87, lifted the Stanley Cup in a joyous championship celebration. As team captain, Crosby's name is expected to come first in the new list of players etched onto the bottom ring of the massive trophy in September. Here's a look at each player who is eligible to have his name on the Cup:
Sidney Crosby
• Center Captain
Pegged as the next hockey megastar from the time he was a teenager, Crosby needed just four pro seasons to win a Cup at age 21, becoming the youngest captain to raise the trophy. He finished second in the regular season with 103 points and led the postseason with 15 goals, tying a league record with six game-openers. "It's everything I expected, and probably more," he said of the experience.
Sergei Gonchar
• Defenseman Alt. Captain
Out until February after preseason shoulder surgery, Gonchar returned for the tremendous stretch drive. He missed two games in the second round, then played despite a torn knee ligament and finished second among defensemen in the playoffs with 14 points. "You've seen it so many times on TV, and now it's in front of you. It's yours," Gonchar, 35, said of winning his first Cup.
Evgeni Malkin
• Center Alt. Captain
Winning the Cup in just his third NHL season, "Geno" captured the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP, at 22 years, 10 months the third-youngest to do so. His 36 playoff points were the most since Wayne Gretzky's 40 in 1993. He became the fifth player since expansion to win the Art Ross Trophy, with 113 points, and lead the playoffs in points. "Lots of emotion," said Malkin. "We won. It's my dream."
Craig Adams
• Right winger
Acquired off waivers from Chicago in March, Adams, 32, stepped in as a fourth-line player and penalty-killer. He had not been in the playoffs since winning his first Cup with Carolina in 2006 but had three goals in the postseason for the Penguins, two in series-clinching games against Washington and Carolina.
Philippe Boucher
• Defenseman
Acquired from Dallas in November, Boucher, 36, brought experience -- including the postseason games when Gonchar was out or limited by a knee injury and the Penguins dressed seven defensemen. He had one goal in the playoffs, the winner in the series opener against Carolina. He won his first Cup.
Matt Cooke
• Left winger
In his first season with the Penguins, Cooke, 30, became a part of the Penguins' solid third line. He had seven points in the playoffs en route to his first Cup. He got under opponents' skin and finished third in the playoffs with 85 hits.
Pascal Dupuis
• Left winger/Right winger
A speedster who was deployed on different lines and was a reliable penalty-killer, Dupuis, 30, won his first Cup. "It's an old cliche, but it feels so good," said Dupuis, who was the odd man out for eight playoff games when the Penguins dressed seven defensemen, but was back for the final series.
Mark Eaton
• Defenseman
After injuries gutted his previous two seasons and forced him to miss the 2008 run to the final, Eaton, 32, a defensive defenseman, blocked 46 shots and surprised some with four goals in the 2009 postseason, including one in the comeback series clincher against Philadelphia. "Besides family stuff, it's the coolest thing that's ever happened to me," he said of his first Cup.
Ruslan Fedotenko
• Left winger
Playing with Malkin and Max Talbot in the playoffs, Fedotenko, 30, had seven goals, 14 points, tied for fourth on the team. This first-year Penguins player won the Cup for the second time after being a hero for Tampa Bay in its clinching game in 2004. "The second one is more emotional than the first one," he said.
Marc-Andre Fleury
• Goalie
Huge saves against Philadelphia's Jeff Carter in the first round, Washington's Alex Ovechkin in the second and Detroit's Nicklas Lidstrom in the final seconds of the Cup clincher helped Fleury, 24, quiet some critics as he won his first Cup. He came back from giving up five goals and getting pulled in Game 5 of the final to win the next two games, allowing one goal in each. "Winning with this team is special," Fleury said.
Mathieu Garon
• Goalie
A little-used backup to Fleury, Garon, 31, won his first Cup. He appeared in just four games after being acquired from Edmonton in January but played a little more than half of Game 5 of the final when the Penguins came out flat and Fleury was pulled. Garon stopped all eight shots he faced.
Hal Gill
• Defenseman
This 6-foot-7 veteran had two playoff assists and earned his first Cup by pairing with Rob Scuderi to form an effective shutdown duo used against opponents' top lines. "It was a tough year all around, so it makes it that much more worth it," said Gill, 34.
Eric Godard
• Right winger
This enforcer in his first season with the Penguins didn't crack the lineup in the playoffs but won his first Cup. In 71 regular-season games, Godard, 29, had two goals and led the team with 171 penalty minutes.
Alex Goligoski
• Defenseman
This offensively gifted rookie played 45 games in the regular season but spent much of the second half of the season in the AHL. Goligoski, 23, returned for the postseason and appeared in two games in the second round while Gonchar was injured. This is his first Cup.
Bill Guerin
• Right winger
The Penguins obtained Guerin, 38, from the New York Islanders in March and milked every bit of experience and leadership from him. He played on the top line with Crosby, and the two became close. In the playoffs, Guerin had seven goals and was third on the team with 15 points. His reward was rejuvenation and his second Cup, after a 14-year wait.
Tyler Kennedy
• Right winger
A whirlwind of speed and grit, Kennedy, 22, was part of the Penguins' effective third line. Three of his five playoff goals were winners, including two in the opening round and one in Game 6 of the final. He won his first Cup.
Chris Kunitz
• Left winger
Acquired from Anaheim in February, Kunitz, 29, played on Crosby's line. He had nearly a point a game in the regular season after the deal and had one goal and 13 assists in the playoffs. He won his second Cup, the first coming in 2007 with Anaheim.
Kris Letang
• Defenseman
A year after he was in and out of the lineup in the playoffs, Letang, 22, was strong at both ends and on the point on the top power-play unit this time. He had four goals, two on the power play, and 13 points in the playoffs as he won his first Cup. One of his goals was an overtime winner in Game 3 against Washington.
Brooks Orpik
• Defenseman
Orpik, 28, is the longest-tenured Penguins player. He was a first-round draft pick in 2000 and waded through some tough non-playoff seasons before winning his first Cup. He was second in the 2009 playoffs, first among defensemen, with 112 hits, and second overall in blocked shots with 51.
Miroslav Satan
• Right winger
In his first season with the Penguins, Satan, 34, was exiled to the minor leagues at the trade deadline because of salary-cap issues. He returned to play in 17 postseason games, getting one goal and six assists on the way to his first Cup. "I signed with Pittsburgh to have a chance to win a Cup, and we did," he said. "It was a strange road to it, especially for me, but we still accomplished the goal.
Rob Scuderi
• Defenseman
Scuderi, 30, along with partner Gill, drew assignments against top opposing players such as Ovechkin, Henrik Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk and Eric Staal. Near the end of Game 6 of the final, Scuderi helped preserve the Penguins' Cup hopes by making a couple of key blocks at the goal line. The skilled penalty-killer led the playoffs with 53 blocked shots in winning his first Cup.
Jordan Staal
• Center
The youngest player in the final, Staal, 20, had two huge goals against Detroit, a tying short-handed goal in Game 4 and the opener in Game 6. He was part of a key third line, killed penalties and was on the second power-play unit. He had four goals, nine points in the playoffs and got to grab the Cup for the first time. "I couldn't get my emotions in check when I was lifting it," he said.
Petr Sykora
• Right winger
A late-season slump led to Sykora, 32, being benched for much of the playoffs. He returned for Game 6 of the final, only to have his foot broken making a big block. He won the Cup with New Jersey in 2000 but missed the on-ice celebration because of a head injury. "When I won it before, I was in the hospital and I never had a chance to grab the Cup and skate around," Sykora said. "I just can't describe the feeling this time."
Max Talbot
• Center/Right winger
Talbot, 25, played with Malkin in the playoffs. He followed a regular season of 12 goals in 75 games with a postseason of eight goals in 24 games, including the winner in the clincher against Carolina and both Penguins goals in Game 7 of the final. His loss in a fight with Philadelphia's Daniel Carcillo sparked the team's comeback, clinching win in the first round. "It was all worth it," Talbot said of his first Cup.
Sidney Crosby
• Center Captain
Pegged as the next hockey megastar from the time he was a teenager, Crosby needed just four pro seasons to win a Cup at age 21, becoming the youngest captain to raise the trophy. He finished second in the regular season with 103 points and led the postseason with 15 goals, tying a league record with six game-openers. "It's everything I expected, and probably more," he said of the experience.
Sergei Gonchar
• Defenseman Alt. Captain
Out until February after preseason shoulder surgery, Gonchar returned for the tremendous stretch drive. He missed two games in the second round, then played despite a torn knee ligament and finished second among defensemen in the playoffs with 14 points. "You've seen it so many times on TV, and now it's in front of you. It's yours," Gonchar, 35, said of winning his first Cup.
Evgeni Malkin
• Center Alt. Captain
Winning the Cup in just his third NHL season, "Geno" captured the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP, at 22 years, 10 months the third-youngest to do so. His 36 playoff points were the most since Wayne Gretzky's 40 in 1993. He became the fifth player since expansion to win the Art Ross Trophy, with 113 points, and lead the playoffs in points. "Lots of emotion," said Malkin. "We won. It's my dream."
Craig Adams
• Right winger
Acquired off waivers from Chicago in March, Adams, 32, stepped in as a fourth-line player and penalty-killer. He had not been in the playoffs since winning his first Cup with Carolina in 2006 but had three goals in the postseason for the Penguins, two in series-clinching games against Washington and Carolina.
Philippe Boucher
• Defenseman
Acquired from Dallas in November, Boucher, 36, brought experience -- including the postseason games when Gonchar was out or limited by a knee injury and the Penguins dressed seven defensemen. He had one goal in the playoffs, the winner in the series opener against Carolina. He won his first Cup.
Matt Cooke
• Left winger
In his first season with the Penguins, Cooke, 30, became a part of the Penguins' solid third line. He had seven points in the playoffs en route to his first Cup. He got under opponents' skin and finished third in the playoffs with 85 hits.
Pascal Dupuis
• Left winger/Right winger
A speedster who was deployed on different lines and was a reliable penalty-killer, Dupuis, 30, won his first Cup. "It's an old cliche, but it feels so good," said Dupuis, who was the odd man out for eight playoff games when the Penguins dressed seven defensemen, but was back for the final series.
Mark Eaton
• Defenseman
After injuries gutted his previous two seasons and forced him to miss the 2008 run to the final, Eaton, 32, a defensive defenseman, blocked 46 shots and surprised some with four goals in the 2009 postseason, including one in the comeback series clincher against Philadelphia. "Besides family stuff, it's the coolest thing that's ever happened to me," he said of his first Cup.
Ruslan Fedotenko
• Left winger
Playing with Malkin and Max Talbot in the playoffs, Fedotenko, 30, had seven goals, 14 points, tied for fourth on the team. This first-year Penguins player won the Cup for the second time after being a hero for Tampa Bay in its clinching game in 2004. "The second one is more emotional than the first one," he said.
Marc-Andre Fleury
• Goalie
Huge saves against Philadelphia's Jeff Carter in the first round, Washington's Alex Ovechkin in the second and Detroit's Nicklas Lidstrom in the final seconds of the Cup clincher helped Fleury, 24, quiet some critics as he won his first Cup. He came back from giving up five goals and getting pulled in Game 5 of the final to win the next two games, allowing one goal in each. "Winning with this team is special," Fleury said.
Mathieu Garon
• Goalie
A little-used backup to Fleury, Garon, 31, won his first Cup. He appeared in just four games after being acquired from Edmonton in January but played a little more than half of Game 5 of the final when the Penguins came out flat and Fleury was pulled. Garon stopped all eight shots he faced.
Hal Gill
• Defenseman
This 6-foot-7 veteran had two playoff assists and earned his first Cup by pairing with Rob Scuderi to form an effective shutdown duo used against opponents' top lines. "It was a tough year all around, so it makes it that much more worth it," said Gill, 34.
Eric Godard
• Right winger
This enforcer in his first season with the Penguins didn't crack the lineup in the playoffs but won his first Cup. In 71 regular-season games, Godard, 29, had two goals and led the team with 171 penalty minutes.
Alex Goligoski
• Defenseman
This offensively gifted rookie played 45 games in the regular season but spent much of the second half of the season in the AHL. Goligoski, 23, returned for the postseason and appeared in two games in the second round while Gonchar was injured. This is his first Cup.
Bill Guerin
• Right winger
The Penguins obtained Guerin, 38, from the New York Islanders in March and milked every bit of experience and leadership from him. He played on the top line with Crosby, and the two became close. In the playoffs, Guerin had seven goals and was third on the team with 15 points. His reward was rejuvenation and his second Cup, after a 14-year wait.
Tyler Kennedy
• Right winger
A whirlwind of speed and grit, Kennedy, 22, was part of the Penguins' effective third line. Three of his five playoff goals were winners, including two in the opening round and one in Game 6 of the final. He won his first Cup.
Chris Kunitz
• Left winger
Acquired from Anaheim in February, Kunitz, 29, played on Crosby's line. He had nearly a point a game in the regular season after the deal and had one goal and 13 assists in the playoffs. He won his second Cup, the first coming in 2007 with Anaheim.
Kris Letang
• Defenseman
A year after he was in and out of the lineup in the playoffs, Letang, 22, was strong at both ends and on the point on the top power-play unit this time. He had four goals, two on the power play, and 13 points in the playoffs as he won his first Cup. One of his goals was an overtime winner in Game 3 against Washington.
Brooks Orpik
• Defenseman
Orpik, 28, is the longest-tenured Penguins player. He was a first-round draft pick in 2000 and waded through some tough non-playoff seasons before winning his first Cup. He was second in the 2009 playoffs, first among defensemen, with 112 hits, and second overall in blocked shots with 51.
Miroslav Satan
• Right winger
In his first season with the Penguins, Satan, 34, was exiled to the minor leagues at the trade deadline because of salary-cap issues. He returned to play in 17 postseason games, getting one goal and six assists on the way to his first Cup. "I signed with Pittsburgh to have a chance to win a Cup, and we did," he said. "It was a strange road to it, especially for me, but we still accomplished the goal.
Rob Scuderi
• Defenseman
Scuderi, 30, along with partner Gill, drew assignments against top opposing players such as Ovechkin, Henrik Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk and Eric Staal. Near the end of Game 6 of the final, Scuderi helped preserve the Penguins' Cup hopes by making a couple of key blocks at the goal line. The skilled penalty-killer led the playoffs with 53 blocked shots in winning his first Cup.
Jordan Staal
• Center
The youngest player in the final, Staal, 20, had two huge goals against Detroit, a tying short-handed goal in Game 4 and the opener in Game 6. He was part of a key third line, killed penalties and was on the second power-play unit. He had four goals, nine points in the playoffs and got to grab the Cup for the first time. "I couldn't get my emotions in check when I was lifting it," he said.
Petr Sykora
• Right winger
A late-season slump led to Sykora, 32, being benched for much of the playoffs. He returned for Game 6 of the final, only to have his foot broken making a big block. He won the Cup with New Jersey in 2000 but missed the on-ice celebration because of a head injury. "When I won it before, I was in the hospital and I never had a chance to grab the Cup and skate around," Sykora said. "I just can't describe the feeling this time."
Max Talbot
• Center/Right winger
Talbot, 25, played with Malkin in the playoffs. He followed a regular season of 12 goals in 75 games with a postseason of eight goals in 24 games, including the winner in the clincher against Carolina and both Penguins goals in Game 7 of the final. His loss in a fight with Philadelphia's Daniel Carcillo sparked the team's comeback, clinching win in the first round. "It was all worth it," Talbot said of his first Cup.
Monday, June 22, 2009
I Won The Cup (Feat. Ray Shero)
I saw this, and just had to share it - warning for language, brutal truthfulness and Hossa jobbing.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
The REAL reason the Pens won the Cup
Now that the fact that we (Pens) have won the Stanley Cup has truly hit home, I started looking back at certain pivotal games throughout all four rounds, and there seemed to be one constant.
Yes, Sid the Kid dominated rounds one and two, Geno took over round three, and scored a lot in the finals, but there was one player that showed up for all four rounds of the playoffs, and is specifically the biggest reason we won it all.
This dude right here.
You can pretty much point to one specific time in each series where Marc-Andre Fleury made a save gave momentum to the Penguins.Here are a few of the reasons why we won the Cup:
Round 1 Philadelphia - Game 2 - 3rd period
Pittsburgh won game one, and the second game was a tight one. Philly was up 2-1 with under 10 minutes to play. If the Flyers scored again they would be heading home with momentum with the series tied at one a piece.
Jeff Carter looked to score on what looked to be a wide open net, but Fleury shows his amazing lateral speed to make an incredible toe save. This save gives the Pens momentum, and Geno ties the game with 3 minutes left. Of course, Billy Guerin scores in OT to give the Pens a 2-0 series lead going back to Philly.
OT would not have been possible without this save:
Round 2 Washington - Game 7 - 1st period
This series was epic. Pittsburgh clawed back to take a 3-2 series lead, after losing the first two games. It seemed the Pens had a really good chance to close the series out at home in game 6, but the Caps played a strong game and prevailed, setting up game 7 in Washington.
The Caps have a team that can dominate offensively, and will shoot from anywhere on the ice - especially when they play at home. This overwhelms goalies quite often, so I was worried about this game.
The Caps came out strong, and Fleury made a big stop very early on. I think this put him in top form - thankfully for the Pens, because Ovechkin was sent in alone three minutes into the game, which resulted in a save that will be talked about for many years. This seemed to take the wind out of the sails of the Capitals, and allowed the Pens to dominate.
If Ovechkin scores on that shot - Caps win.
Here's the save:
This series was epic. Pittsburgh clawed back to take a 3-2 series lead, after losing the first two games. It seemed the Pens had a really good chance to close the series out at home in game 6, but the Caps played a strong game and prevailed, setting up game 7 in Washington.
The Caps have a team that can dominate offensively, and will shoot from anywhere on the ice - especially when they play at home. This overwhelms goalies quite often, so I was worried about this game.
The Caps came out strong, and Fleury made a big stop very early on. I think this put him in top form - thankfully for the Pens, because Ovechkin was sent in alone three minutes into the game, which resulted in a save that will be talked about for many years. This seemed to take the wind out of the sails of the Capitals, and allowed the Pens to dominate.
If Ovechkin scores on that shot - Caps win.
Here's the save:
Round 4 Detroit - Game 6 - 3rd period
In a very close game, and the Pens facing elimination, Fleury made a massive save on Dan Cleary with under two minutes remaining. The save helped the Pens keep the one goal lead, which held up, as the Pens won 2-1, forcing a game 7.
In a very close game, and the Pens facing elimination, Fleury made a massive save on Dan Cleary with under two minutes remaining. The save helped the Pens keep the one goal lead, which held up, as the Pens won 2-1, forcing a game 7.
Round 4 Detroit - Game 7 - 3rd period
Every fans and players dream - the two best teams in the league facing off in a one game winner takes all affair.
By now everyone knows Mad Max ha a game to remember, scoring both goals in a thrilling 2-1 victory.
But the thing I will remember most about this game, is the save made on Lidstrom with under two seconds remaining..
Unbelievable.
Every fans and players dream - the two best teams in the league facing off in a one game winner takes all affair.
By now everyone knows Mad Max ha a game to remember, scoring both goals in a thrilling 2-1 victory.
But the thing I will remember most about this game, is the save made on Lidstrom with under two seconds remaining..
Unbelievable.
You may have noticed that I never added any big saves from round 3 vs Carolina. In that series, Fleury and Cam Ward dualled in what was looking to be a very tight low scoring series. Fleury matched Ward big save after big save, until the Pens offense (specifically Geno) dominated the series, and made Ward actually look pretty average.
Now, I understand that it takes a total team effort to win the Cup, and you can totally justify Geno winning the Conn Smyth (playoff MVP)...but I would bet if the decision for the Conn Smyth was to be given out the day after the Cup is awarded, the man known as the Flower would have won easily.
I'm going to quote a very wise man (ahem - myself) from this blog before game 6 of the Finals:
Stanley Cup winning goalies are a special rare breed - some pretty much win it outright for their teams (Ward, Giguere) - and some are bit players that are a product of the machine in front of them (lookin' at you Osgood) - but none of that matters once they hoist the Cup.
Marc Andre Fleury is a really good young goalie. He has unfortunately shown a penchant for giving up weird goals at the worst times - too many to mention.
He has otherworldly reflexes and talent, but it looks to me like he hasn't mastered the mental toughness goalies need to take it to the next level consistently. There are flashes, but that's it.
If the Pens are going to win tonight or in game 7, Fleury is going to have to prove that he deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as Crosby and Malkin.
Now, I understand that it takes a total team effort to win the Cup, and you can totally justify Geno winning the Conn Smyth (playoff MVP)...but I would bet if the decision for the Conn Smyth was to be given out the day after the Cup is awarded, the man known as the Flower would have won easily.
I'm going to quote a very wise man (ahem - myself) from this blog before game 6 of the Finals:
Stanley Cup winning goalies are a special rare breed - some pretty much win it outright for their teams (Ward, Giguere) - and some are bit players that are a product of the machine in front of them (lookin' at you Osgood) - but none of that matters once they hoist the Cup.
Marc Andre Fleury is a really good young goalie. He has unfortunately shown a penchant for giving up weird goals at the worst times - too many to mention.
He has otherworldly reflexes and talent, but it looks to me like he hasn't mastered the mental toughness goalies need to take it to the next level consistently. There are flashes, but that's it.
If the Pens are going to win tonight or in game 7, Fleury is going to have to prove that he deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as Crosby and Malkin.
I think Marc-Andre Fleury has proven - without any doubt - that he deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as Sid and Geno. His performances in game 6 and 7 will forever wipe away all those softies and weird goals he let in.
He will no longer be known as the goalie that let in the strange goal that cost Canada the World Juniors - he will be known as a Stanly Cup champion.
He will no longer be known as the goalie that let in the strange goal that cost Canada the World Juniors - he will be known as a Stanly Cup champion.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Lemieux to be knighted
It's about freaking time!
From TSN
QUEBEC - Hockey legend Mario Lemieux and Rene Angelil, the husband and manager of pop icon Celine Dion, were inducted Wednesday into the Order of Quebec.
The honour added to an unforgettable week for Lemieux, the principal owner of the Pittsburgh Penguins, who won the Stanley Cup last Friday.
"It's important to be recognized," said the NHL Hall of Famer, who also led Pittsburgh to a pair of Stanley Cups wearing the Penguins uniform in the early 1990s.
"I've been in Pittsburgh for 25 years. A bit more than one-half of my life has been spent (away), so to be recognized in Quebec is something very special."
Dion accompanied Angelil to the ceremony inside the provincial legislature along with the couple's young son, Rene-Charles.
"It's a great honour," said Angelil, who was also joined by his daughter, Anne-Marie, and son-in-law Marc Dupre.
"I'm touched, I'm very proud to be a Quebecer."
To ensure the spotlight stayed on her husband, Dion tried to stay away from the cameras and did not speak to journalists.
Outside, police kept a group of onlookers, who hoped to catch a glimpse of Dion and Lemieux, a safe distance from the building.
Former Supreme Court of Canada justice Louise Arbour was also among those inducted into the Order.
The ex-United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights, who presided over international tribunals that investigated the Rwandan genocide and the carnage in the former Yugoslavia, was named a grand officer of the Order, the highest rank. Angelil was named an officer and Lemieux a knight.
"It's very important for me," Arbour said. "I was absent from Quebec, I didn't work a lot in Quebec, so to have this kind of resonance here is an honour.
"I think it's very inspiring."
In all, Premier Jean Charest admitted more than 30 people to the Order.
"Quebecers are paying homage to some of their most illustrious fellow citizens," Charest said at the ceremony.
The Order of Quebec is the province's highest honour and is given for meritorious service.
It was instituted in 1984 by Quebec's lieutenant-governor on the advice of the government of then-premier Rene Levesque.
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