Retired NHL star Claude Lemieux died by suicide on the age of 60. The four-time Stanley Cup champion was discovered hanging by one in every of his sons contained in the warehouse of his household’s enterprise in Lake Park, Florida.
Amid reviews of his passing, folks near the previous hockey participant are sharing particulars concerning the personal struggles that he by no means acquired over.
In accordance with shut buddies of Claude Lemieux, he died of a damaged coronary heart for 2 “deeply painful” causes associated to his youngsters and hockey.
Individuals who knew Claude Lemieux worry his suicide might have been spurred by a “damaged coronary heart” associated to his profession and household.
Throughout a stellar profession spanning over 20 years, the previous NHL star led the Montreal Canadiens, New Jersey Devils, and Colorado Avalanche to a complete of 4 Stanley Cups, cementing his legacy because the ninth-best playoff aim scorer of all time.
However, sadly, Lemieux was by no means inducted into the Hockey Corridor of Fame after he retired from the game in July, 2009.
Now, based on the New York Put up, buddies of Lemieux declare that whereas he was a “robust man” on the rink, he struggled with rejection and by no means acquired over the truth that he had not been given the highest hockey honor.
“He all the time lived this as an injustice, a heavy burden to bear,” Montreal hockey columnist Rejean Tremblay mentioned of Lemieux, whom he knew for over 30 years. “The sense of rejection ran deeper than one might need imagined. He took it very laborious.”
His Closing Hockey Look As The Ceremonial Torchbearer For The Montreal Canadiens Would possibly Have Reawakened Previous Pains
Lemieux’s previous struggles and trauma with rejection date again to 1985, when he was demoted to the minor leagues after his rookie NHL season.
Disheartened by the choice, Lemieux reportedly confessed to hockey columnist Tremblay that he smashed his personal automobile’s windshield in a match of frustration.
He then drove the 100 miles from Montreal to Sherbrooke with the shattered glass and refused to reside within the condominium the staff had supplied for him.
In his remaining hockey look, Lemieux was invited again by the Montreal Canadiens final Monday to function their ceremonial torchbearer on the Bell Centre.
It was a poignant return to the franchise the place he initially broke into the NHL as an 18-year-old rookie from Gatineau, Quebec. Carrying the standard torch earlier than Sport 3 of the Jap Convention Finals in opposition to the Carolina Hurricanes, the second introduced his legendary hockey journey full circle.
The retired star was met with loud chants and reward from an adoring crowd of 21,000 folks. Nonetheless, based on Trembley, this will likely have been to his detriment.
“It’s potential that surge of affection, that wave of affection on Monday night, triggered an emotion that was too intense,” Tremblay advised The Put up, whereas citing folks within the NHL who have been near Lemieux. “It might need reawakened outdated pains, outdated struggling.”
Claude Lemieux Went Over Ten Years With out Talking To Any Of His Youngsters
The second painful cause for Lemieux’s heartbreak was his 10-year estrangement from his youngsters, based on sources, which is alleged to have weighed closely on the hockey legend years after his retirement.
“It harm him tremendously,” Tremblay famous about Lemeiux’s remaining years. The late NHL star’s household additionally famous that he had been coping with despair within the days main as much as his suicide, however by no means thought he would take his personal life.
“They didn’t anticipate that in any respect, they by no means noticed it coming,” Colombe Lacroix, a detailed pal of the household, advised the information outlet. “He’s been going via a troublesome time; he was depressed.”
“It’s so devastating, everyone seems to be the other way up,” Lacroix continued, tearfully. “Brendan is totally destroyed,” she mentioned of Lemieux’s 30-year-old hockey participant son, who discovered his dad’s physique.”
The Late NHL Star Made One Final Journey To See His Dad and mom Earlier than His Suicide
In accordance with Lacroix, the household pal, Lemieux made certain to go to his mother and father one final time earlier than his suicide.
The NHL legend is alleged to have gone on the journey to Montreal together with his sons from his first marriage, Michael and Christopher, to see their grandparents.
Lacroix, who’s the widow of former Colorado Avalanche normal supervisor Pierre Lacroix, additionally opened up about her remaining moments with Lemieux.
She initially bonded with Lemieux and his spouse, Deborah, throughout his stint with the staff from 1995 to 1999. Having just lately relocated to Florida, Lacroix lived simply 40 minutes away from the Lemieux household on the time of his passing.
“I held Claude in my arms, and I mentioned thanks for being there for me,” Lacroix recalled. “He left our world too quickly, and I hope he’s in a greater place and that he’s glad.”
President Donald Trump Paid Tribute To Claude Lemieux After His Passing
Since information of his demise, tributes have poured in for the legendary NHL star from all corners of the world, remembering him for his legacy.
US President Donald Trump shared one of many earliest tributes, writing on his Fact Social web page: “Claude Lemieux, a real Legend of the Sport and one of many fiercest rivals Hockey has ever seen, has handed away.”
He continued, “Claude was a pal to the household, and an incredible ‘TRUMP’ supporter. He received 4 Stanley Cups with 3 totally different Groups — Montreal, New Jersey, and Colorado — His 80 Profession Playoff Objectives rank among the many All Time Greats.”
Trump then turned his focus to Lemieux’s household, saying, “Brendan, my ideas are with you, Deborah, and the entire Lemieux household — You and your Dad have been Warriors on the Ice. Claude might be missed by all who love Profitable and Toughness. #MAGA President DONALD J. TRUMP.”
RIP, Claude Lemieux.
