Three days ago, Lemieux was the torchbearer for the Montreal Canadiens ahead of Monday night’s Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals at the Bell Centre.
Montreal, Quebec— Claude LemieuxA four-time Stanley Cup champion whose ferocious, hard-hitting style of play infuriated opponents and sometimes overshadowed his outstanding skill and ability in the games that mattered most has died. He is 60 years old.
The NHL Alumni Association announced Lemieux’s death in a post on social media Thursday. It’s unclear what caused Lemieux’s death or where he was when he died.
Just three days ago, Lemieux was the torchbearer for the Montreal Canadiens Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals Monday night at the Bell Center. former teammate chris nyland Retweeted his photoLemieux and Sergio Momeso left a message at the arena: “You never know when you will see someone for the last time. Rest in peace, my friend.”
“Today is a dark day for the Canadiens family and the entire hockey community,” Canadiens owner Jeff Molson said. “A fierce competitor who stepped up when it mattered, Crowder was a relentless, courageous and tenacious player who led his team to the highest honors. He embodied the essence of what it was like to be a Montreal Canadiens player. Today we mourn the untimely passing of one of our champions. Our thoughts are with his family on this difficult day.”
As a player, Lemieux combined talent and grind and was not afraid to cross the line in the name of competition.
In 1995, he scored 13 goals in 20 games for the New Jersey Devils, helping the team win their first championship, win the Conn Smythe Trophy and become the playoff MVP.
A year later with the Colorado Avalanche, he was suspended two games for hitting Detroit’s Chris Draper in the back, sparking one of the most heated rivalries in NHL history. Lemieux scored the first goal in Game 3 of the finals against Florida, helping the Avalanche sweep the Panthers to win the Stanley Cup for the first time in their first season away from their native Quebec.
Darren McCarty, a combative member of the Red Wings, many fights Along with Lemieux, Posted heartbroken emoji on social media And heard from Draper. McCarty said Lemieux was a completely different person than the player, and both men smiled about their conflict when interviewed later.
“Sad Day: Another Brother Passed Away,” McCarty wrote in video message Post to YouTube. “If you’re out there struggling, no matter what, get help. It’s never that bad. Regardless, it’s a sad day. Rest in peace, Claude.”
Lemieux also won a Cup with Montreal in 1986 and returned to the Devils in 2000 to be part of the team’s championship run. He appeared in 1,449 regular season and playoff games with six different teams from 1983 to 2009, ultimately playing for Phoenix, Dallas and San Jose.
His 80 career playoff goals rank ninth in league history. Commissioner Gary Bettman called Lemieux “one of the greatest big-game players in hockey history.”
Lemieux became an agent in the years following his career and represented more than a dozen NHL clients including Carolina’s Frederik Andersen, New Jersey’s Timo Meyer, Detroit’s Moritz Seidel and Boston’s Hampus Lindholm.
Lemieux’s brother Jocelyn and son Brendan are both members of the hockey family and have also played in the hockey league. Brandon’s active style, which he played in more than 300 games, most closely resembles his father’s.
At a gathering in December celebrating the 30th anniversary of Colorado’s ’96 Stanley Cup championship, Lemieux said of the win, “When it happens, when you’re in it, you don’t appreciate it as fully as you should.” late former teammate chris simon His children represented him at the ceremony on the ice. He died in 2024 at the age of 52.
“It’s very difficult, especially with Chris passing away so young,” Lemieux said. “We must count our blessings – be grateful for the days we have, and enjoy and be grateful for the time we have together.”
Associated Press sports writer Pat Graham in Denver contributed to this report.
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