The Carolina Hurricanes held a touching tribute to late hockey ‘great’ Claude Lemieux – just four days after he carried the torch when the two teams faced off earlier this week.
Lemieux, who was a four-time winner of the Stanley Cup and one of the most controversial players in hockey history, died by suicide in the early hours of Thursday morning.
His passing has left the hockey world in mourning, with President Trump among those to pay tribute to a ‘true legend’ of hockey.
Just three days before his death, Lemieux served as the ceremonial ‘torch bearer’ for the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre before their Eastern Conference Final Game 3 matchup against the Hurricanes.
On Friday night, the two teams met once more at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina, with the Hurricanes honoring Lemieux before the game.
‘The hockey world lost a great champion yesterday, with the passing of Claude Lemieux,’ the arena announcer said. ‘[He was] known across the league as a fierce competitor, the winner of four Stanley Cups and known to our organization as a father and advisor.’
The Carolina Hurricanes held a touching tribute to hockey ‘great’ Claude Lemieux on Friday
On Monday, Lemieux carried the torch before Game Three between the Canadiens and the Hurricanes
Lemieux was drafted by the Canadiens in 1983 and later won a Stanley Cup with the franchise, while his son, Brendan, played for the Hurricanes a few years ago. The 60-year-old also worked as an agent, with his clients including Carolina goaltender Frederik Andersen, who recently described Lemieux as ‘like family.’
The announcer continued: ‘Claude left a lasting legacy on our great game. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and every player his life impacted.’
A picture of Lemieux appeared on the jumbotron, prompting cheers and applause from the crowd in North Carolina.
According to the authorities, deputies responded just after 3am Thursday to the scene of an apparent suicide at the family’s furniture store in Lake Park, Florida. Reports on Friday claimed Lemieux was found in a warehouse by one of his sons having hanged himself.
The former winger is survived by his wife Deborah and his four children – Claudia, 29, and sons Christopher, 37, Michael, 34, and Brendan, 30. It is unclear which of his sons found him on Thursday morning.
Brendan, who played seven seasons in the NHL for five teams, honored his dad with a picture on social media showing three generations of the Lemieux family.
‘I love you dad! My son’s favorite person is going to watch from above for a while. We will see you,’ he wrote alongside the photo.
Christopher, meanwhile, said: ‘Sometimes life has a brutal way of reminding you to appreciate what you have before it becomes a memory… I’ll miss you dad.’
Lemieux’s son Brendan paid a heartbreaking tribute to the NHL legend after his death
He won the 1986 Stanley Cup with the Canadiens as a rookie – his first of four titles
Lemieux’s daughter Claudia said ‘no words’ could ‘express the level of devastation we feel,’ adding: ‘I love you forever daddy. Forever your only girl.’
According to WPBF, Lemieux was discovered in a rear warehouse belonging to furniture company Andros Home, which was owned by Claude and his wife Deborah.
‘With profound sadness we share news of the unexpected passing of our co-founder Claude Lemieux,’ Andros Home wrote in an Instagram post.
‘Claude was an extraordinary presence whose vision, generosity and big heart shaped not only Andros, but the many relationships and lives around him. Our immediate focus is supporting the Lemieux family during this difficult time. We appreciate everyone’s love and support.’
The native of Buckingham, Quebec, won four titles in a career that spanned from 1983 to 2009. His 80 playoff goals are ninth in NHL history and his 234 playoff games are sixth.
But Lemieux will also be remembered as one of the most infamous players in NHL history. He amassed 1,777 career penalty minutes across 1,215 regular-season games.
Despite winning four titles, he may be best remembered for a devastating hit he laid on Detroit Red Wings star Kris Draper that sparked a blood feud between Detroit and the Colorado Avalanche that lasted for years.
‘The National Hockey League mourns the passing of Claude Lemieux, a four-time Stanley Cup champion and one of the greatest big-game players in hockey history,’ read a statement from commissioner Gary Bettman.
He was a four-time Stanley Cup champion and one of the most controversial players in history
‘Lemieux forged his postseason reputation and won the Cup for the first time as a rookie in 1986, when he scored 10 goals in the Playoffs for the Montreal Canadiens.
‘He won the Conn Smythe Trophy as Playoffs MVP in 1995, scoring 13 goals in 20 postseason games with the New Jersey Devils. He was also an integral part of Cup-winning teams in Colorado in 1996 and back with New Jersey in 2000.
‘Overall, his teams reached the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 15 straight seasons; his 234 postseason games played rank sixth in NHL history; and his 80 career Playoff goals rank ninth. In recent years, as a player agent, he has represented some of the top stars in the NHL.
‘We send our deepest condolences to Claude’s wife, Deborah, and his four children, Brendan, Claudia, Michael and Christopher.’
If you or someone you know needs help, please call or text the confidential 24/7 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the US on 988. There is also an online chat available at 988lifeline.org.
