Liputan6.com, Jakarta - The hockey world was shocked by the tragic news of the death of former National Hockey League (NHL) star and four-time Stanley Cup winner Claude Lemieux.
He passed away on Thursday, May 28, 2026, at the age of 60.
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The cause of death was confirmed as suicide, shaking the global sports community.
Lemieux was found by his son in a storage room behind a furniture store in Lake Park, Florida, early Thursday morning around 3:00 a.m.
The furniture store was a business he owned with his wife, Deborah.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office treated the incident as a suspected suicide and launched an investigation.
Lemieux had appeared on Monday, May 25, 2026, as a ceremonial torchbearer at Montreal's Bell Centre before Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final between the Canadiens and the Carolina Hurricanes.
Claude Lemieux carried the torch for Montreal on Monday before Game 3…Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones ❤️💙 pic.twitter.com/wpmkE47lyi
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) May 28, 2026
Details of the Incident
The discovery of Claude Lemieux's body by his son on the family business property in Florida was the starting point for this tragic news.
The NHL Alumni Association was the first to announce Lemieux's passing via a social media post, sparking a wave of condolences from across the hockey world.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman expressed his deepest condolences, calling Lemieux one of the greatest big-game players in hockey history.
Montreal Canadiens owner and CEO Geoff Molson also offered his condolences, describing Lemieux as a fierce competitor who always stepped up in the big moments and embodied the essence of being a Montreal Canadiens player.
“Today is a dark day for the Canadiens family and the entire hockey community,“ said Geoff Molson, owner and CEO of Groupe CH, the team’s ownership group. “I wish to express my most sincere and deepest condolences to Claude’s family and loved ones.
Joe Sakic, president of hockey operations for the Colorado Avalanche and a former teammate of Lemieux, remembered him as a great hockey player, a fierce competitor, and a champion in every sense of the word.
Even his former teammate and fierce rival on the ice, Darren McCarty, expressed his grief and emphasized that Lemieux was a different person off the ice.
Claude Lemieux's Brilliant NHL Career
Claude Lemieux, born in Buckingham, Quebec, Canada, on July 16, 1965, dedicated 21 seasons of his career to the National Hockey League (NHL).
During his long career, he was known for his aggressive, physical playing style, and his ability to consistently perform at his best in key games.
Lemieux won four Stanley Cups with three different teams, a rare achievement that demonstrated his adaptability and brilliance.
He won Stanley Cups with the Montreal Canadiens (1986), the New Jersey Devils (1995 and 2000), and the Colorado Avalanche (1996).
The pinnacle of his individual career came in 1995 when he won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP while playing for the New Jersey Devils, scoring 13 goals in 20 playoff games.
Lemieux Impressive Achievements
Lemieux recorded 379 goals, 407 assists, and 1,777 penalty minutes in 1,215 regular season games.
In 234 playoff games, he demonstrated his reliability by scoring 80 goals, ranking him ninth in NHL history, and totaling 158 points.
After retiring as a player, Lemieux pursued a career as a player agent.
He also represented Canada internationally, winning gold medals at the 1985 World Junior Championships and the 1987 Canada Cup.
Lemieux is survived by his wife, Deborah, and four children, including his son, Brendan, who also played in the NHL.