Bildnummer: 05355628 Datum: 16.01.2010 Copyright: imago/UPI Photo Former Colorado Avalanche and New Jersey Devils Claude Lemieux waves while being honored for alumni appreciation night before the first period between New Jersey and Colorado at the Pepsi Center in Denver on January 16, 2010. Lemieux won four Stanley Cups while playing for three different teams. PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxONLY DEN20101606; Eishockey Herren USA NHL vdig xng 2010 quadrat Image number 05355628 date 16 01 2010 Copyright imago UPI Photo Former Colorado Avalanche and New Jersey Devils Claude Lemieux Waves while Being honored for Alumni appreciation Night Before The First Period between New Jersey and Colorado AT The Pepsi Center in Denver ON January 16 2010 Lemieux Won Four Stanley Cups while Playing for Three different Teams PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxONLY Ice hockey men USA NHL Vdig 2010 Square
Bildnummer: 05355628 Datum: 16.01.2010 Copyright: imago/UPI Photo Former Colorado Avalanche and New Jersey Devils Claude Lemieux waves while being honored for alumni appreciation night before the first period between New Jersey and Colorado at the Pepsi Center in Denver on January 16, 2010. Lemieux won four Stanley Cups while playing for three different teams. PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxONLY DEN20101606; Eishockey Herren USA NHL vdig xng 2010 quadrat Image number 05355628 date 16 01 2010 Copyright imago UPI Photo Former Colorado Avalanche and New Jersey Devils Claude Lemieux Waves while Being honored for Alumni appreciation Night Before The First Period between New Jersey and Colorado AT The Pepsi Center in Denver ON January 16 2010 Lemieux Won Four Stanley Cups while Playing for Three different Teams PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxONLY Ice hockey men USA NHL Vdig 2010 Square
Brendan Lemieux has asked the hockey community for privacy around his father Claude Lemieux's death. On Thursday, July 16, his father's birthday, Brendan shared a vulnerable message through his Instagram story.
In the message, he asked fans to avoid engaging in and fueling the speculation about his father's demise, which happened nearly two months ago on May 28. Just three days before the unfortunate happening, Claude had returned to Montreal.
The 60-year-old was the Bell Centre’s torchbearer before Game 3 of the NHL’s Eastern Conference Finals between the Montreal Canadiens and Carolina Hurricanes on Monday, May 25.
In Thursday's statement on IG, Brendan said, "Today, on my father Claude Lemieux’s birthday, several media outlets published articles filled with intimate details about the night he passed some accurate, many complete fabrications."
Bildnummer: 04349184 Datum: 19.02.2009 Copyright: imago/Icon SMI Claude Lemieux (San Jose Sharks) - PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxRUSxSWExNORxONLY (Icon28309021953); Vdig, quer NHL 2008/2009 San Jose Eishockey Herren Mannschaft USA Einzelbild Aktion Personen Image number 04349184 date 19 02 2009 Copyright imago Icon Smi Claude Lemieux San Jose Sharks PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxRUSxSWExNORxONLY Icon28309021953 Vdig horizontal NHL 2008 2009 San Jose Ice hockey men Team USA Single Action shot Human Beings
Bildnummer: 04349184 Datum: 19.02.2009 Copyright: imago/Icon SMI Claude Lemieux (San Jose Sharks) - PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxRUSxSWExNORxONLY (Icon28309021953); Vdig, quer NHL 2008/2009 San Jose Eishockey Herren Mannschaft USA Einzelbild Aktion Personen Image number 04349184 date 19 02 2009 Copyright imago Icon Smi Claude Lemieux San Jose Sharks PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxRUSxSWExNORxONLY Icon28309021953 Vdig horizontal NHL 2008 2009 San Jose Ice hockey men Team USA Single Action shot Human Beings
Highlighting the damage such speculative headlines and articles can cause, Brendan further wrote:
"This is the unfortunate reality of today’s media landscape: clicks and engagement are prioritized over truth, respect, and basic human decency."
Brendan then directly asked people to "give our family the space and dignity to grieve" in private. He promised his family would share more later, hoping to help others who are going through similar pain.
A few days after Claude's death, the family announced that they would donate his brain to Boston University. Contributing to studying CTE, a disease that occurs due to repetitive brain trauma in athletes, military personnel, and first responders.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman also called Claude "one of the greatest big-game players" the sport has ever seen. Many players across the league gave out similar tributes in the next few days.
Claude Lemieux's Hall of Fame career
Claude Lemieux is one of the most decorated players in NHL history. He played 1,215 regular-season games in 21 seasons. He was a part of six teams: the Montreal Canadiens, New Jersey Devils, Colorado Avalanche, Phoenix Coyotes, Dallas Stars, and San Jose Sharks.
As shared in the tribute by the NHL, Lemieux won four Stanley Cups: With Montreal in 1986, New Jersey in 1995, Colorado in 1996, and New Jersey again in 2000. All the teams he played with reached the playoffs for 15 straight seasons.
Even in the postseason, Lemieux scored 80 goals across 234 games. After winning the 1995 Conn Smythe Trophy, Lemieux said it was an honour to be "the most hated man in hockey and have your name on the trophy."
One of his most infamous moments dates back to 1996, when he hit Detroit's Kris Draper and broke Draper's jaw, cheek, and orbital bone. The NHL then suspended Lemieux for two games.
After retiring in 2009, Lemieux continued working as a hockey agent. He went on to represent NHL players in the next few years. He scored 786 points in his career: 379 goals and 407 assists.
The hockey world remembered him as a relentless, competitive player who carried the game when it mattered most.
Read more at NHL Fan Central!
Written by
Aadhya Nalla
Edited by
Yash Kotak