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The NHL and the sports world continue to mourn the loss of two-time Stanley Cup champion Claude Lemieux, who died Thursday. He was 60 years old.
Lemieux’s death came as a surprise as he carried the torch at the Montreal Canadiens’ arena Monday before the team’s third game against the Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference final. In his red and blue Canadiens jersey, number 32, Lemieux smiled and carried a flame towards a dark rink.
Tributes quickly poured in as news of Lemieux’s death spread, with his daughter among those remembering one of hockey’s most respected and polarizing figures.
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Claude Lemieux made an appearance at the Bell Center in Montreal 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 her own heartfelt message. “No words to express the level of devastation we feel. I love you forever Dad. Forever your only daughter.”
Claude Lemieux’s son, Brendan, also paid tribute to his father by sharing a photo featuring three generations of the family on social media.
Claude Lemieux, wearing number 22, scores for the Canadian Legends against the United States Legends during the Legends Classic hockey game at the Air Canada Center in Toronto, Ontario, November 7, 2010. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
“I love you Dad! My son’s favorite person will be watching from above for a while. We’ll see you,” he wrote with a red heart emoji. Brendan inherited his father’s passion for hockey and spent a decade in the NHL, most recently playing for Carolina during the 2023-24 season.
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Lemieux scored one of the most famous goals in Canadiens history as a rookie in 1986, sliding a backhand over Hartford goalie Mike Liut’s glove and into the top corner in Game 7 of the second round.
Claude Lemieux is honored during the Colorado Avalanche’s 30th anniversary celebrations for the 1995-96 season before the game against the Florida Panthers at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado on December 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 his teammates, a trait that stood out during the 1989 Stanley Cup Final.
“It was painful playing against him, but you wanted him on your team.”
