Donald Trump has penned a heartfelt tribute to Claude Lemieux after the NHL icon’s death at 60, branding him a ‘true legend’ of the sport and a ‘tremendous’ MAGA ally.
Lemieux, a four-time Stanley Cup champion and one of the most notorious players in hockey history, died by suicide in the early hours of Thursday morning, according to TMZ.
The Canadian’s death was first announced by the NHL Alumni Association on Thursday, but a cause of death was not given. TMZ then reported that he was found by one of his adult sons after an apparent suicide.
The outlet later revealed that the son in question found him at the family’s furniture business in South Florida at around 3am after they became concerned that he hadn’t returned home.
Following the tragic news of his suicide, Trump wrote about Lemieux on his Truth Social account on Thursday night: ‘Claude Lemieux, a true Legend of the Game, and one of the fiercest competitors Hockey has ever seen, has passed away.
‘Claude was 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.’
Donald Trump has penned a heartfelt tribute to Claude Lemieux after the NHL icon’s death
Lemieux, a four-time Stanley Cup champion, died by apparent suicide early Thursday morning
Lemieux is survived by wife Deborah and his four children; sons Christopher, 37, Michael, 34, and Brendan, 30, and daughter Claudia, 29. It is unclear which of his sons reportedly found him on Thursday morning.
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.
Trump continued in his Truth Social post: ‘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. #MAGA President DONALD J. TRUMP’.
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’s legacy is also affected by the 1,777 career penalty minutes he accumulated across 1,215 regular season games – wherein he garnered a reputation for being one of the most controversial players in NHL history.
While the four titles are perhaps his biggest accomplishment, 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.
His sudden passing comes just three days after he served as the ceremonial ‘torch bearer’ for the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre
‘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.’
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.
