President Donald Trump called former NHL star Claude Lemieux “a true Legend of the Game” after the four-time Stanley Cup champion’s death, aged 60, was announced on Thursday. Lemieux took his own life, authorities said.
“Claude Lemieux, a true Legend of the Game, and one of the fiercest competitors Hockey has ever seen, has passed away,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, calling him “a friend to the family, and a tremendous “TRUMP” supporter.”
“He won 4 Stanley Cups with 3 different Teams — Montreal, New Jersey, and Colorado — His 80 Career Playoff Goals rank among the All Time Greats,” Trump said.
Canadian-born Lemieux did not have an active public role in politics. Newsweek contacted 4sports Hockey, where Lemieux was a player agent, the alumni group for the Montreal Canadiens, and the Lemieux family store, Andros Home in Lake Park, Florida, via email outside regular business hours.
Lemieux is survived by wife Deborah and his four children; sons Christopher, 37, Michael, 34, and former NHL player Brendan, 30, and daughter Claudia, 29.
“Brendan, my thoughts are with you, Deborah, and the whole Lemieux family — You and your Dad were Warriors on the Ice. Claude will be missed by all who love Winning and Toughness,” Trump added.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office said deputies responded shortly after 3 a.m. to the scene of an apparent suicide at the family’s furniture store in Lake Park, Florida. The office said the victim was believed to be Lemieux, who was found in a rear warehouse of Andros Home showroom by one of his sons.
Andros Home announced Lemieux’s death in a post on Instagram, calling him a co-founder.
“With profound sadness we share news of the unexpected passing of our co-founder Claude Lemieux,” the post said.
“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.”
Lemieux Tributes Pour In
The NHL Alumni Association paid tribute to Lemieux in a post on X, writing that it is “devastated to share that Claude Lemieux has passed away at the age of 60” and sharing details of his NHL career.
Geoff Molson, the owner of the Montreal Canadiens, where Lemieux began his career, said: “Today is a dark day for the Canadiens family and the entire hockey community. A fierce competitor who rose to the occasion in big moments, Claude was a relentless, courageous and tenacious player who led the team to the highest honors. He embodied the very essence of being 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.”
Colorado president of hockey operations Joe Sakic, who was teammates with Lemieux on the Colorado Avalanche, said the organization was devastated.
“‘Pepe’ was a terrific hockey player, a fierce competitor and a champion in every way. He was also a loyal friend who would do anything for his teammates and someone you could always count on,” Sakic said. “Gone but never forgotten. Rest in peace my friend.”
Claude Lemieux’s NHL Career
A four-time Stanley Cup champion, Lemieux’s edge and timing made him one of the NHL’s defining playoff performers of the 1980s and 1990s.
Born in Buckingham, Quebec, he was a second-round draft pick by the Montreal Canadiens in the 1983 NHL Draft.
Nicknamed “Pepe,” he won his first Stanley Cup with the Canadiens in 1986, before going on to win championships with the New Jersey Devils in 1995 and 2000, and with the Colorado Avalanche in 1996.
Lemieux won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 1995 after scoring 13 goals in 20 games for the Devils to help them win their first championship.
He played a total of 21 seasons in the NHL, racking up nearly 400 goals, about the same number of assists and nearly 1,800 penalty minutes. His 80 career playoff goals rank ninth in league history.
Lemieux had become an agent in the years since his playing career ended and represented Carolina’s Frederik Andersen, New Jersey’s Timo Meier, Detroit’s Moritz Seider and Boston’s Hampus Lindholm among more than a dozen clients in the NHL.
This article includes reporting by The Associated Press.
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, text “988” to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 or go to 988lifeline.org
