The son of Claude Lemieux has paid a heartbreaking tribute to the NHL legend in the wake of his death.
Lemieux, a four-time Stanley Cup champion and one of the most controversial players in hockey history, died by suicide in the early hours of Thursday morning. He was 60.
The Palm Beach County Sherriff’s Office said deputies responded just after 3am to the scene of an apparent suicide at the family’s furniture store in Lake Park, Florida. It’s said Lemieux was found in a warehouse by one of his sons.
News of the 60-year-old’s death sparked an outpouring of sadness, with President Trump among those to pay tribute to a ‘true legend’ of hockey.
Lemieux is survived by his wife Deborah and his four children, including ex-NHL star Brendan Lemieux who wrote on social media: ‘I love you dad! My son’s favorite person is going to watch from above for a while. We will see you.’
Alongside the message, Brendan posted a photo of three generations of the Lemieux family – his father, his son and himself. He also shared a picture of his son and his father together with the caption: ‘His favorite person in the world.’
Claude Lemieux’s son has paid a heartbreaking tribute to the NHL legend after his death
NHL icon Lemieux, pictured on Monday, was found dead by one of his sons
‘My son’s favorite person is going to watch from above for a while,’ Brendan Lemieux wrote
Brendan, who played seven seasons in the NHL for five teams, currently plays in Switzerland with HC Davos. He and his dad are the only father-son duo in NHL history to be punished by the league for biting other players.
The 30-year-old is the youngest of Lemieux’s three sons. His other children are Christopher, 37, Michael, 34, and daughter Claudia, 29. It is unclear which of his sons found him on Thursday morning.
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.’
Lemieux’s sudden passing comes just three days after he served as the ceremonial ‘torch bearer’ for the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre before their Eastern Conference Final Game 3 matchup against the Carolina Hurricanes.
The native of Buckingham, Quebec, won four titles in his 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.
He was a four-time Stanley Cup champion and one of the most controversial players in history
Lemieux won the 1986 Stanley Cup with the Canadiens as a rookie – his first of four titles
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.
‘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.’
