Claude Lemieux, famend for his fierce competitiveness and formidable presence on the ice, has handed away on the age of 60. A legend within the hockey world, Lemieux’s profession was marked by his function in securing 4 Stanley Cup victories.
The information of his demise was shared by the NHL Alumni Affiliation on Thursday, although they didn’t specify the trigger. Subsequent studies from TMZ have prompt that Lemieux died by suicide. He leaves behind a grieving household, together with his spouse and 4 kids.
Simply days earlier than his premature demise, Lemieux had the honour of performing because the ceremonial ‘torch bearer’ for the Montreal Canadiens. This occasion happened on the Bell Centre, forward of their Jap Convention Ultimate Recreation 3 towards the Carolina Hurricanes, including a poignant notice to his closing public look.
Hailing from Buckingham, Quebec, Lemieux had an illustrious profession that spanned from 1983 to 2009. His identify is etched into NHL historical past, rating ninth in playoff objectives with 80, and sixth in playoff sport appearances, having performed 234 video games.
Regardless of his spectacular achievements, Lemieux’s profession was not with out controversy. Identified for his aggressive enjoying type, he amassed 1,777 penalty minutes over 1,215 common season video games, incomes a fame as one of the crucial polarizing figures within the NHL.
Whereas the 4 titles are maybe his greatest accomplishment, he could also be greatest remembered for a devastating hit he laid on Detroit Purple Wings star Kris Draper that sparked a blood feud between Detroit and the Colorado Avalanche that lasted for years.
Claude Lemieux, a four-time Stanley Cup champion, has died on the age of 60
His passing comes simply three days after he served because the ‘torch bearer’ for the Montreal Canadiens on the Bell Centre earlier than Recreation 3 of the Jap Convention Finals towards Carolina
In a tribute to his influence on the game, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman expressed sorrow at his passing, stating, “The Nationwide Hockey League mourns the passing of Claude Lemieux, a four-time Stanley Cup champion and one of many biggest big-game gamers in hockey historical past.”
‘The Nationwide Hockey League mourns the passing of Claude Lemieux, a four-time Stanley Cup champion and one of many biggest big-game Gamers in hockey historical past,’ learn an announcement from commissioner Gary Bettman.
‘Lemieux solid his postseason fame and gained the Cup for the primary time as a rookie in 1986, when he scored 10 objectives within the Playoffs for the Montreal Canadiens. He gained the Conn Smythe Trophy as Playoffs MVP in 1995, scoring 13 objectives in 20 postseason video games with the New Jersey Devils. He additionally was an integral a part of Cup-winning groups in Colorado, in 1996, and again with New Jersey in 2000.
‘General, his groups reached the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 15 straight seasons; his 234 postseason video games performed rank sixth in NHL historical past; and his 80 profession Playoff objectives rank ninth. Lately, as a participant agent, he has represented a few of the high stars within the NHL.
‘We ship our deepest condolences to Claude’s spouse, Deborah, and his 4 kids, Brendan, Claudia, Michael and Christopher.’
Born in 1965, Lemieux performed within the QMJHL for Trois Rivieres earlier than being drafted within the second spherical by his hometown Canadiens.
Lemieux made his NHL debut at 18 and was a significant contributor to Montreal’s 1986 Stanley Cup successful workforce.
He grew to become the primary rookie in NHL historical past to attain a Recreation 7 additional time winner, eliminating the Hartford Whalers within the Prince of Wales Division Finals. In those self same playoffs, he scored the one objective in Recreation 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals because the Habs gained that 12 months’s title in 5 video games over the Calgary Flames.
He was traded to the New Jersey Devils in 1990 and gained his second Stanley Cup with the workforce in 1995 – scoring objectives in Video games 1 and three of a sequence sweep and successful the Conn Smythe Trophy as MVP of the playoffs.
Lemieux scored the primary Recreation 7 additional time successful objective by a rookie to beat the Hartford Whalers
Lemieux gained the 1986 Stanley Cup with the Canadiens as a rookie – his first of 4 titles
Lemieux was traded to the New Jersey Devils in 1990 and gained the Stanley Cup once more in 1995
Lemieux gained the Conn Smythe in that 1995 run earlier than being traded to the Avalanche
Following that title-winning marketing campaign, Lemieux was traded to the Colorado Avalanche for the 1995-96 season. It was in that 12 months’s Stanley Cup Playoffs the place Lemieux would lay the hit that outlined his profession.
In Recreation 6 of the Western Convention Finals towards Detroit, Lemieux laid a test on Purple Wings ahead Kris Draper from behind that broke his jaw, nostril and cheekbone whereas additionally giving him a concussion.
The hit sparked a rivalry between the groups that lasted for years and carried over to the subsequent season after the Avalanche eradicated the Purple Wings in that sport en path to successful the 1996 Stanley Cup – giving Lemieux his third title.
Though the NHL suspended Lemieux for 2 video games, followers in Detroit anticipated the prospect for revenge in a March 26, 1997 sport in Michigan that kicked off one of the crucial notorious brawls in NHL historical past.
In what was the third struggle of the night time, Purple Wings enforcer Darren McCarty despatched Lemieux to the ice with the primary of what can be many devastating blows earlier than officers separated the 2.
By sport’s finish, the Purple Wings gained 6-5 in an additional time sport that featured 18 combating main penalties and 144 penalty minutes mixed.
The 2 groups met once more within the 1997 Western Convention Finals, the place the groups fought extra earlier than the Purple Wings beat Colorado in six video games en path to successful the Stanley Cup.
Lemieux gained back-to-back titles when he took the Stanley Cup with Colorado in 1996
In these playoffs, Lemieux delivered a crushing hit – beginning a feud with the Detroit Purple Wings
The 2 groups would proceed combating for years till Lemieux was traded again to New Jersey in November of 1999, simply in time to win his fourth Stanley Cup with the Devils that season.
He finally performed three seasons with the Phoenix Coyotes and a part of one season with the Dallas Stars earlier than retiring in 2003.
Lemieux made a profession comeback in 2008, enjoying 18 video games with the San Jose Sharks earlier than retiring for good in 2009.
He’s survived by his brother, Jocelyn Lemieux – who additionally loved a prolonged profession within the NHL.
Amongst Claude’s kids contains his son, Brendan Lemieux, who performed seven seasons within the NHL for 5 groups – the Winnipeg Jets, New York Rangers, Los Angeles Kings, Philadelphia Flyers and the Hurricanes.
Brendan at present performs in Switzerland with HC Davos. Brendan and Claude are the one father-son duo in NHL historical past to be punished by the league for biting different gamers.
Should you or somebody wants assist, please name or textual content the confidential 24/7 Suicide & Disaster Lifeline within the US on 988. There may be additionally a web based chat obtainable at 988lifeline.org.
