Former Rangers forward, family donate Claude Lemieux’s brain for CTE research
Former New York Rangers forward Brendan Lemieux posted an official family statement on behalf of his mother, two brothers, and sister on his social media accounts Saturday, two days after his father, four-time Stanley Cup champion Claude Lemieux, committed suicide.
Within the statement, the Lemieux family announced that it donated Claude’s brain to the “UNITE Brain Bank at the Boston University CTE Center for research into the long-term effects of repetitive head impacts and traumatic brain injury. The family has also given permission for the CTE center to identify Claude by name in connection with his donation and any findings it may publicly share in accordance with its research protocols.”
Claude Lemieux played all or part of 21 NHL seasons, totaling 1,215 regular-season games and another 234 in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, fifth most all-time. And he did so in an all-out style, where few could match his intensity nor ferocity on the ice.
“I knew him only as a player, an opponent, not as a person. But he was a helluva player. Skill, grit. When you played against him on the ice, you hated him. He was a real agitator, so difficult to play against. But you had to also respect his ability. He was an elite player,” legendary Rangers goalie Mike Richter told Forever Blueshirts in an exclusive interview this week.
“He was a fierce competitor. And I respect that.”
Lemieux won two Stanley Cup rings with the New Jersey Devils, and one each with the Montreal Canadiens and Colorado Avalanche. He was the 1995 Conn Smythe Trophy winner as playoff MVP, and scored 80 postseason goals, ninth most in NHL history.
He was as tough as he was skilled. And, if it is proven he had CTE, that could’ve been his ultimate downfall. The New York Post reported that Lemieux was extremely depressed in his final days, even despite an appearance earlier in the week carrying the torch into pre-game ceremonies at Bell Centre before the Canadiens hosted the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final.
The Hurricanes won the best-of-7 series in five games, and one of their stars, goalie Frederik Andersen, was extremely emotional following the series win, since Lemieux was his long-time agent. Lemieux was an agent for nearly two decades after his playing days, and represented his son, Detroit Red Wings star Moritz Seider, and Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Rasmus Andersson, among others.
“It’s so special to be able to show up for him and make him proud, go out and battle,” Andersen told TNT following Carolina’s decisive Game 5 victory.
Former Rangers forward Brendan Lemieux dealing with shock of father’s suicide
Lemieux, who was 60 years old, reportedly hung himself in the warehouse of a family furniture business in Florida. When it got late, a worried Brendan went to the store and found his father around 3:30 A.M. on Thursday.
That day, as word spread of his father’s passing, the rugged former Rangers forward posted a photo of three generations of Lemieux men and brief comment on his Instagram account.
The Rangers acquired Brendan from the Winnipeg Jets on Feb. 25, 2019 along with two conditional draft picks, including a first-rounder, in a trade for forward Kevin Hayes. Lemieux had 31 points (11 goals, 20 assists) and 214 penalty minutes in 109 games with the Rangers, before they traded him to the Los Angeles Kings for a fourth-round draft pick on March 27. 2021.
All told, Lemieux played 307 NHL games for the Jets, Rangers, Kings, Philadelphia Flyers, and Carolina Hurricanes. He totaled 74 points (36 goals, 38 assists) and 548 penalty minutes in the NHL.
The 30-year-old played the past two seasons with HC Davos in Switzerland.
“Claude dedicated his post-play career to helping the next generation,” the Lemieux family said in the statement. “By allowing his name to be connected to this [CTE] research, we hope his life can contribute to greater understanding, more honest conversation, and better protection for athletes and families in the years ahead.”
