Claude Lemieux was one of the NHL’s most accomplished playoff performers, winning four Stanley Cups during a 21-year career that made him a household name among hockey fans.
Following his death at age 60 in May 2026, tributes poured in from across the hockey world, including from the Montreal Canadiens, where Claude began his NHL career and won his first Stanley Cup in 1986.
“Today is a dark day for the Canadiens family and the entire hockey community,” Canadiens owner and CEO Geoff Molson said in a statement. “I wish to express my most sincere and deepest condolences to Claude’s family and loved ones. A fierce competitor who rose to the occasion in big moments, Claude was a relentless, courageous, and tenacious player who led the team to the highest honors. He embodied the very essence of being a Montreal Canadiens player. Today we mourn the untimely passing of one of our champions. Our thoughts are with his family on this difficult day.”
As fans remember Claude’s life and legacy, many are also revisiting his family, including his son Brendan’s hockey career and his connection to fellow NHL legend Mario Lemieux. Below, learn more about Claude’s family and personal life.
No. Despite sharing the same last name and both enjoying successful NHL careers, Claude was not related to hockey legend Mario Lemieux. The connection has long been a source of confusion among fans, particularly because both players were French-Canadian stars who played during the same era.
Mario is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in NHL history. The Hall of Famer spent his entire career with the Pittsburgh Penguins, winning two Stanley Cups as a player and helping lead the franchise to additional championships as an owner. He also captured six Art Ross Trophies as the league’s leading scorer and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1997.
Claude was married to Deborah Lemieux. The couple wed in the mid-1990s and remained together until his death. Deborah was by his side throughout much of his hockey career and the years that followed.
