NHL and Avalanche great Joe Sakic joined the hockey world in mourning the death of four-time Stanley Cup winner Claude Lemieux, who reportedly took his own life on Thursday.
Sakic was teammates with Lemieux for parts of five seasons in Colorado from 1995-96 to early in the 1999-2000 season, when Lemieux was traded to the Devils
The two won a Stanley Cup together in 1996. The Avs legend described Lemieux as a “fierce competitor and a champion.”
“We are devastated to learn of Claude’s passing,” Sakic said in a statement released through the Avalanche. “‘Pepe’ was a terrific hockey player, a fierce competitor and a champion in every way. He was also a loyal friend who would do anything for his teammates and someone you could always count on. Most importantly he was a wonderful family man and there is nothing he enjoyed more than spending time with his grandchildren.
“Today is a very sad day for the Avalanche family and Claude will be greatly missed by all of us who had the privilege of knowing him. On behalf of the entire Avalanche organization, we send our love and prayers to Deborah and the Lemieux family. Gone but never forgotten. Rest in peace my friend.”
Lemieux played 21 years in the NHL, spending time with the Canadiens, Devils, Avalanche, Coyotes, Stars and Sharks.
He won his first of four Cups in 1986 with the Canadiens and helped the Devils win the franchise’s first championship in 1995.
Lemieux arrived in Colorado before the start of the 1995-96 season via trade and became the 10th player in NHL history to win back-to-back Stanley Cups when he lifted hockey’s greatest prize again in 1996.
His fourth came during his second stint with the Devils in 2000.
The hockey agitator recorded 379 goals and 407 assists in 1,215 regular-season games, and had 158 points in 234 playoff games during his memorable career.
According to multiple reports, Lemieux died by suicide and was discovered in a furniture store that the ex-NHL player and his wife owned in Lake Park, Fla.
Deputies from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office responded to a suicide attempt at the showroom and the business was secured in order for an investigation to be conducted, authorities office told The Athletic.
The Palm Beach County Medical Examiner’s Office did not release any records to the outlet due to a Florida statute that exempts suicide cases from public record requirements.
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