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The NHL and the greater sports world continue to mourn the loss of two-time Stanley Cup champion Claude Lemieux, who died Thursday. He was 60.
Lemieux’s death came as a surprise as he carried the torch into the Montreal Canadiens’ home court Monday before the team’s Game 3 against the Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference finals. In his red and blue Canadiens jersey, No. 32, Lemieux smiled and carried a flame toward a darkened rink.
Tributes quickly poured in as news of Lemieux’s death spread, and his daughter was among those remembering one of hockey’s most respected — and polarizing — figures.
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Claude Lemieux appeared at Montreal’s Bell Center for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final just days before his death. (Photo by Matt Garies/NHLI via Getty Images)
After reposting a New Jersey Devils tribute to her father on Instagram Stories, Claudia Lemieux shared a heartfelt message. “No words to express the level of devastation we feel. I love you forever dad. Forever your only girl.”
Claude Lemieux’s son, Brendan, also honored his father by sharing a photo with three generations of the family on social media.
Claude Lemieux, wearing No. 22, scores for the Canada Legends against the USA Legends during the Legends Classic Hockey Game at the Air Canada Center in Toronto, Ontario on November 7, 2010. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
“I love you dad! My son’s favorite person is going to be watching from above for a while. We want to see you,” he wrote along with a red heart emoji. Brendan inherited his father’s passion for hockey and went on to spend a decade in the NHL, most recently playing for Carolina in the 2023-24 season.
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Lemieux scored one of the most famous goals in Canadiens history as a rookie in 1986, slipping a backhander over Hartford goaltender Mike Liut’s glove and into the top corner in Game 7 of the second round.
Claude Lemieux is honored at the Colorado Avalanche’s 30th anniversary of the 1995-1996 season before the game against the Florida Panthers at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado on Dec. 11, 2025. (Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images)
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Lemieux grew up in Mont-Laurier in western Quebec.
Former Canadiens center Doug Gilmour said Lemieux possessed the rare ability to frustrate opponents while earning the respect of teammates, a trait that stood out during the 1989 Stanley Cup Final.
“He was a pain to – play against, but you wanted him on your team.”
