Legendary NHL star Claude Lemieux passed away on Thursday at the age of 60, leaving the hockey world in mourning. Widely remembered as one of the fiercest competitors in the sport, Lemieux was also a beloved family man with a witty sense of humor.

The NHL Alumni Association took to their official X account to pay tribute to the NHL icon, talking at length about his illustrious hockey career. They also mentioned that the memorial service details of Lemieux will be announced in due course.

Gary Bettman, the NHL commissioner, said in an official statement that Lemieux was “one of the greatest big-game players in hockey history" and extended condolences to his family. Lemieux is survived by his wife, Deborah, and his four children, Christopher, Michael, Claudia, and Brendan.

Brendan, 30, who followed in the footsteps of his father in the NHL, paid an emotional tribute to him by sharing a photo of three generations of the family on Instagram.

"I love you dad! My son’s favorite person is going to watch from above for a while. We will see you," he wrote in the caption.

Ahead of Game 5 against the Montreal Canadiens in the Eastern Conference Final on Friday, May 29, the Carolina Hurricanes honored Lemieux with a tribute at Lenovo Center in Raleigh. Coincidentally, Brendan played for the Hurricanes during the 2023-24 season

Lemieux, who won his first of his four Stanley Cup titles with the Canadiens, made his last public appearance earlier this week in Montreal, QC. At the Bell Centre on May 25, he was a part of the ceremonial torch-bearing ceremony ahead of Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final series.

Fans react to the sudden passing of Claude Lemieux on social media

​In the comments section of a tribute post for Claude Lemieux from the NHL Alumni Association on X, the fans remembered the iconic hockey player and celebrated his life.

“My condolences to his wife and children. I’m saddened to hear this news. Sending prayers,” wrote a fan.

A supporter was quite surprised that the last major public appearance of the ex-Canadien happened to be at the Bell Centre earlier this week.

“He was JUST the torch bearer on Monday in Montreal. RIP Claude Lemieux,” they remarked.

A few fans from the rival teams of Lemieux also showed their respect towards the NHL icon despite watching some of their favorites bearing the brunt of his intense play on the ice.

“If he was on your team, you loved him. Not on your team, you hated him. The bigger the stage, the higher the stakes, the more clutch he performed. #RIPPepe,” one of those rival fans said.

“I hated this man with all my heart and soul as a Detroit Red Wings fan. But it is impossible not to remember him as a hockey legend, and it was so awesome to see him deliver the torch at the Bell Centre the other day. RIP Claude. Condolences to friends and family,” another rival fan reminisced about the good old days.

In 1996, Lemieux broke multiple facial bones of Detroit Red Wings’ Kris Draper while playing for the Colorado Avalanche in the West Final, kicking off an intense rivalry between both franchises.

“The Draper hit was 30 years ago tomorrow, set off the biggest rivalry in NHL history. 4 Cups, a Conn Smythe, it's hard to overstate the impact Claude made on this game. RIP to an absolute legend,” a fan reminded everyone about the insane turn of events in the late 90s in the NHL.

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Written by

Arjun Sharma

Edited by

Ankita Yadav