Rape Case Affidavit Includes Lemieux -- Witnesses: Penguins Star Was Present

MINNEAPOLIS - Witnesses told police that Pittsburgh Penguins star Mario Lemieux was present when Minnesota North Stars forward Dan Quinn allegedly raped a 19-year-old woman, according to a court document filed yesterday.

The document - a police investigator's affidavit seeking a search warrant - does not indicate that Lemieux took part in the alleged assault. Bloomington Police Chief Bob Lutz reiterated yesterday that Quinn is the only person who might be charged in the incident.

Quinn, 27, a former Penguins player, has been accused of raping the woman Nov. 10 in a room at a Bloomington hotel. Quinn was arrested in connection with the alleged assault but is free on $30,000 bond and has not been formally charged.

Quinn has maintained that the sex was consensual. He is on leave from the North Stars.

According to the affidavit, the assault occurred after three women met a group of Penguins and North Stars players at a bar in the Mall of America and went with the players to their hotel.

The affidavit refers to the players only as "Mario" and "Dan," but says the alleged victim and witnesses identified Lemieux from a newspaper photograph as the "Mario" who was in the room during the alleged assault. Quinn identified himself by name to the women, the affidavit says.

"Mario" is mentioned only twice in the 1 1/2-page affidavit. He called "Dan" into a bathroom at one point during the alleged assault, the affidavit says, and later returned some beer-soaked clothes to the alleged victim and another woman who was in the room.

"The alleged victim has a vivid imagination," said Lemieux's agent, Tom Reich. "And we will make an appropriate response at the proper time."

LAST NIGHT'S GAMES -- DETROIT 7, AT WASHINGTON 5 - The Red Wings scored three goals in a span of 4:16, the last by Paul Ysebaert with 3:45 left, to overcome a two-goal deficit. -- PITTSBURGH 4, AT NEW JERSEY 1 - Rick Tocchet and rookie Shawn McEachern each scored two goals to lead the Penguins. Tom Barrasso made 33 saves for his league-leading 12th victory and his 89th as a Penguin, erasing the mark held by Denis Herron. Mario Lemieux had three assists for an NHL-leading 55 points. It was his 19th multiple-point game in 21 games this season.

NOTES -- Doug Brown was put on waivers without being told, assigned to Utica when no team picked him up, then was suspended without pay by GM Lou Lamoriello for refusing to report to the New Jersey Devils' farm club. Brown is a seven-year veteran. -- The Boston Bruins acquired defenseman Dominic Lavoie from the Ottawa Senators. Lavoie played in two games with the Senators this season, scoring an assist.