NHL legend Claude Lemieux’s body was found by his adult son early Thursday morning, May 28, at the family’s furniture store in Florida, Us Weekly can confirm.
His family reportedly became concerned when he didn’t return home, prompting one of his adult sons to check on him. Lemieux, who was 60, was found at approximately 3 a.m. in a rear warehouse. He died by apparent suicide.
The Palm Beach County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed Lemieux’s death to Us on Thursday, but did not specify any other details.
Lemieux is survived by his wife, Deborah, daughter Claudia, and sons Brendan, Christopher and Michael. The outlet did not specify which son found the four-time Stanley Cup champion.
Lemieux’s NHL career spanned 21 seasons and included stints with the Montreal Canadiens, New Jersey Devils, Colorado Avalanche, Phoenix Coyotes, Dallas Stars and San Jose Sharks.
“Today is a dark day for the Canadiens family and the entire hockey community,” Canadiens owner Geoff Molson said in a statement. “I wish to express my most sincere and deepest condolences to Claude’s family and loved ones.”
He continued, “A fierce competitor who rose to the occasion in big moments, Claude was a relentless, courageous, and tenacious player who led the team to the highest honors. He embodied the very essence of being a Montreal Canadiens player. Today we mourn the untimely passing of one of our champions. Our thoughts are with his family on this difficult day.”
The league also released a statement, saying in part, “He was loved by his wife and four children, and on behalf of the Lemieux family, we kindly ask that everyone respect their privacy during this difficult time.”
Lemieux was known for intensity on the ice, logging 1,777 penalty minutes in 1,215 career games and developing friendships with penalty box attendants around the league. He also finished his long career with 379 goals and 407 assists.
Since news broke of Lemieux’s death, additional tributes have poured in, from the NHL and beyond. Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette released a statement via X calling his death “a great loss.”
“Claude Lemieux, he was my generation,” she wrote. “A striking figure in our hockey, a player with heart in his belly. His death seems so sudden, just a few days after seeing him proudly carry the torch at the Bell Centre. My thoughts are with his loved ones.”
“We were friends, neighbors, when I went back to Arizona to play, he will be missed,” former MLB pitcher Curt Schilling added via X.
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