For years, the NHL star was the kind of athlete who made arenas roar, rivals bristle, and fans remember every hard-fought moment. But away from the ice, the man behind the bruising reputation was living a quieter chapter — one filled with family, a new business, and a bond with his grandson that has now made his family’s grief feel all the more heartbreaking.Claude Lemieux was seen smiling with a torch in his hand not long before the hockey world was hit with devastating news.Now, the four-time Stanley Cup champion’s family is grieving a loss that feels painfully sudden, and one message from his son makes the heartbreak even harder to process.The former NHL star, known for his fearless style on the ice and his unforgettable playoff performances, died at the age of 60. Claude played 21 years in the NHL, winning four Stanley Cups during a career that took him through some of hockey’s biggest franchises.”Today is a dark day for the Candiens family and the entire hockey community,” said CEO and Owner of Groupe CHI Geoff Molson in a statement.

He won two Cups with the New Jersey Devils and one each with the Colorado Avalanche and the Montreal Canadiens. He also earned the 1995 Conn Smythe Trophy, cementing his reputation as one of the game’s most intense postseason performers.His numbers told one part of the story: 80 playoff goals, 158 playoff points, 1,215 regular-season games, 379 goals, 786 points, and 1,777 penalty minutes. But to fans, Claude was never just a stat line. He was bold, bruising, controversial, clutch — the kind of player people either loved or loved to debate.Just days before his death, video shared by the Montreal Canadiens showed Claude serving as a torchbearer before Eastern Conference Final Game 3. In the footage, he appears smiling as he carries the torch through a tunnel while the crowd roars. That public appearance now feels especially emotional in hindsight.