Lemieux children mourn father days after his final public appearance

Lemieux children mourn father days after his final public appearance

Four-time Stanley Cup champion Claude Lemieux died Thursday at the age of 60, days after carrying the torch at Montreal’s Bell Centre during the Canadiens’ Eastern Conference Final home game against the Carolina Hurricanes. His death came without warning, with family members among the first to respond publicly.

His daughter, Claudia Lemieux, reposted a tribute from the New Jersey Devils before adding her own message: “No words to express the level of devastation we feel. I love you forever daddy. Forever your only girl.” His son Brendan shared a three-generation family photograph alongside the words, “I love you dad! My son’s favorite person is going to watch from above for a while. We will see you.” Brendan Lemieux followed his father into the NHL and spent the 2023-24 season with the Carolina Hurricanes, the same franchise his father faced in his final public appearance.

Claude Lemieux built a reputation across two decades as one of the most combative and effective players of his era, winning Stanley Cup championships with the Montreal Canadiens, New Jersey Devils, Colorado Avalanche, and New Jersey Devils again across a career that spanned multiple franchises. His 1986 playoff goal against Hartford goaltender Mike Liut in Game 7 of the second round remains among the most celebrated in Canadiens postseason history. Former NHL center Doug Gilmour described him as a player opponents dreaded facing but teammates valued deeply.

Lemieux appeared at the Bell Centre wearing his familiar No. 32 Canadiens sweater, smiling as he carried the flame before Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final. The Canadiens and the broader hockey community have continued to pay tribute to him as that series proceeds.