Sports
As a participant, the 6-foot-1, 215-pound Lemieux was a bruising mixture of expertise and abrasiveness, not afraid to cross the road within the title of competitors over 21 seasons within the NHL.
Claude Lemieux, a four-time Stanley Cup champion whose ferocious, hard-hitting model of play angered opponents and generally overshadowed his prodigious expertise and skill to ship within the greatest video games, has died after taking his personal life, based on authorities. He was 60.
The Palm Seashore County Sherriff’s Workplace mentioned Thursday that deputies responded simply after 3 a.m. to the scene of an obvious suicide on the household’s furnishings retailer in Lake Park, Florida. The workplace mentioned the sufferer was believed to be Lemieux, who was present in a rear warehouse by one in all his sons.
The NHL Alumni Affiliation introduced Lemieux’s demise in a put up on social media.
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EDITOR’S NOTE — This story contains dialogue of suicide. When you or somebody you recognize wants assist, the nationwide suicide and disaster lifeline within the U.S. is offered by calling or texting 988. There’s additionally a web-based chat at 988lifeline.org
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Simply three days in the past, Lemieux was the Montreal Canadiens’ torch bearer previous to Recreation 3 of the Japanese Convention Remaining at Bell Centre. Former teammate Chris Nilan reposted a photograph of him, Lemieux and Sergio Momesso from the sector with the message: “You by no means know once you’re going to see somebody for the final time. Relaxation in Peace, Mon Ami.”
“As we speak is a darkish day for the Canadiens household and all the hockey group,” Canadiens proprietor Geoff Molson mentioned. “A fierce competitor who rose to the event in large moments, Claude was a relentless, brave and tenacious participant who led the staff to the very best honors. He embodied the very essence of being a Montreal Canadiens participant. As we speak we mourn the premature passing of one in all our champions. Our ideas are along with his household on this tough day.”
President Donald Trump, in a put up on social media, known as Lemieux a “true Legend of the Recreation and one of many fiercest rivals Hockey has ever seen.” He described Lemieux as an incredible Trump supporter, saying he ”can be missed by all who love Profitable and Toughness.”
As a participant, the 6-foot-1, 215-pound Lemieux was a bruising mixture of expertise and abrasiveness, not afraid to cross the road within the title of competitors over 21 seasons within the NHL. He wound up with almost 400 objectives, about the identical variety of assists and almost 1,800 penalty minutes, the epitome of a man you wished in your staff however dreaded dealing with on the ice.
“Simply hard-nosed, hard-nosed participant,” mentioned Montreal coach Martin St. Louis, a former star for Tampa Bay. “Once I performed towards Claude, you needed to battle for each inch on the ice with him. He competed arduous. He all the time toed the road. He was a tough participant to play towards.”
Lemieux gained the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP after scoring 13 objectives in 20 video games for the New Jersey Devils to assist them win their first championship in 1995.
A yr later with the Colorado Avalanche, he was suspended for 2 video games for successful from behind on Detroit’s Kris Draper that fueled one of many nastiest rivalries within the historical past of the NHL. Lemieux returned to attain the primary objective in Recreation 3 of the ultimate towards Florida on the best way to the Avalanche sweeping the Panthers to win the Stanley Cup for the primary time of their first season since shifting from his native Quebec.
Darren McCarty, a truculent member of the Pink Wings who had a number of fights with Lemieux, posted a damaged coronary heart emoji on social media and heard the information from Draper. McCarty mentioned Lemieux the particular person was completely totally different than the participant, and the 2 later met for an interview with smiles about their clashes.
“Unhappy day: one other brother gone,” McCarty mentioned in a video message posted to YouTube. “When you’re struggling on the market, it doesn’t matter what, simply attain out for some assist. It will probably by no means be that unhealthy. It’s a tragic day, it doesn’t matter what. Relaxation in peace, Claude.”
Colorado president of hockey operations Joe Sakic, who was teammates with Lemieux on the Avalanche, mentioned the group was devastated.
“‘Pepe’ was a terrific hockey participant, a fierce competitor and a champion in each manner. He was additionally a loyal buddy who would do something for his teammates and somebody you would all the time rely on,” Sakic mentioned. “Gone however by no means forgotten. Relaxation in peace my buddy.”
Lemieux additionally gained the Cup with Montreal in 1986 and returned to the Devils to be part of their title run in 2000. He performed 1,449 regular-season and playoff video games with six totally different groups from 1983-2009, ending with Phoenix, Dallas and San Jose.
His 80 profession playoff objectives rank ninth in league historical past. Commissioner Gary Bettman known as Lemieux “one of many best big-game gamers in hockey historical past.”
Lemieux had grow to be an agent within the years since his enjoying profession ended and represented Carolina’s Frederik Andersen, New Jersey’s Timo Meier, Detroit’s Moritz Seider and Boston’s Hampus Lindholm amongst greater than a dozen shoppers within the NHL.
A part of a hockey household, Lemieux’s brother Jocelyn and son Brendan additionally performed within the league. Brendan’s feisty model over greater than 300 video games most resembled his father’s.
At a gathering in December to have fun the 30-year anniversary of Colorado’s ’96 Stanley Cup championship, Lemieux mentioned of successful, “When it’s occurring, once you’re in the course of it, you don’t fairly recognize it as a lot as you need to.” Late former teammate Chris Simon was represented in the course of the on-ice ceremony by his youngsters. He died in 2024 at 52.
“It’s very tough, and particularly with Chris passing at such a younger age,” Lemieux mentioned. “Now we have to rely our blessings — be pleased about the times that we’ve got and revel in and recognize these instances after we get collectively.”
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Related Press author David Fischer in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and AP Sports activities Writers Pat Graham in Denver and Aaron Beard in Raleigh, North Carolina, contributed to this report.
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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
