News broke several days ago that hockey legend Claude Lemieux, whose two-decade career made him one of the NHL’s most recognizable figures, died at age 60.
Early reports indicated he died by suicide, with subsequent updates from those close to him providing context about his final days.
Lemieux was found hanging in the warehouse of his family’s furniture business in Palm Beach County, Florida, shortly after 3:30 a.m. Thursday.
The Montreal Canadiens — where he made his NHL debut at age 18 from Gatineau, Quebec — honored him this past Monday by having him carry the torch at the Bell Centre ahead of Game 3 of the NHL conference finals against the Carolina Hurricanes. He was smiling as an adoring crowd of 21,000 cheered him on.
According to family sources, Lemieux had been battling depression and a long-standing sense of rejection from the league due to his lack of induction into the NHL Hall of Fame.
He had not spoken to his children for approximately ten years, adding significant emotional strain during his later life.
A close family friend who was present at the scene stated: “They didn’t expect that at all. He’s been going through a difficult time.”
