Claude Lemieux died by suicide at his family’s furniture store in Lake Park, Florida, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office said. He was 60.
The sheriff’s office said deputies responded shortly after 3 a.m. to the scene of an apparent suicide. An officer told investigators the victim was believed to be Lemieux and that he was found in a rear warehouse by one of his sons, the office said.
Lemieux broke into the NHL with the Montreal Canadiens and was part of their 1986 Stanley Cup team, according to NHL records. He won four Stanley Cups in his career and in 1995 and 1996 became the 10th player in NHL history to win back-to-back Stanley Cups with different teams, first with the New Jersey Devils and then with the Colorado Avalanche, the NHL said. He was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy after the 1995 Stanley Cup Final, NHL records show.
In postseason play, Lemieux had 158 points — 80 goals and 78 assists — in 234 games, according to NHL statistics. He last played in the NHL with the San Jose Sharks and retired in 2009. Over his career he appeared in 1,215 NHL games for the Montreal Canadiens, New Jersey Devils, Colorado Avalanche, Phoenix Coyotes, Dallas Stars and San Jose Sharks, the NHL said.
After retiring, Lemieux worked as a player agent and, according to the North State Journal, represented Carolina Hurricanes goalie Frederik Andersen. OutKick’s Matt Reigle and The Associated Press contributed to this report. This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
