Ho-Sang has been the subject of social-media crticism for choosing No. 66. The 21-year-old, who made his NHL debut on March 2, told Newsday earlier this month that he wears it as a tribute to Lemieux and would consider changing it if asked. He told the Post-Gazette on Thursday that it's more than Lemieux's on-ice success he wants to honor.
[RELATED: Mario Lemieux: 100 Greatest NHL Players]
"You look at the Mario Lemieux
"For me, Pittsburgh is the one city as a whole where I'm totally OK with them hating me for wearing No. 66," Ho-Sang told Newsday. "Mario Lemieux is a hero, a pioneer for them there, and for them to take it as disrespect is completely understandable.
"I think it's everyone outside of Pittsburgh that should kind of get over it. But if they want to hate me for my career, they're welcome to. I have no bad blood with them; they can have whatever they want with me."
Lemieux, who was named one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players presented by Molson Canadian in January, is 10th in NHL history in goals (690), eighth in points (1,723), and helped the Penguins win back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 1991 and 1992. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1997.
No. 66 isn't retired League-wide like No. 99 is for Wayne Gretzky. Two players have worn it since Lemieux retired from the NHL in 2006: Ho-Sang and Calgary Flames defenseman TJ Brodie in 2010-11.
Ho-Sang has seven points (three goals, four assists) in 11 games this season.
