Claude Lemieux’s family is donating his brain to CTE research, according to Chris Johnston of The Athletic.
Johnston, posting on X on Saturday, May 30, reported the family will donate the brain of the four-time Stanley Cup champion 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.”
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Johnston reported Lemieux’s family made the decision with a desire to improve the lives of others.
“‘The family emphasizes that this decision is a gift to science, to athletes and to future generations of families seeking answers. No conclusion should be drawn at this time regarding any diagnosis,'” Johnston’s post, which includes a statement from the family, reads.
Lemieux died on Thursday, May 28 at the age of 60 just days after he carried the ceremonial torch into the Canadiens’ Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals. His cause of death has not been confirmed at the time of publication.
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Remembering Claude Lemieux’s NHL career in photos
Claude Lemieux’s NHL career was marked by playoff performances and key moments across multiple teams.
See the moments that trace Lemieux’s path through a long career on the ice, including his role in defining games.
Above, Goaltender Mike Richter of the USA stops Claude Lemieux of Canada on a breakaway in the third period the World Cup of Hockey at Molson Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada in 1996. Richter made 35 saves in the game and was voted the tournament’s MVP.
(Glenn Cratty, Getty Images)
1 / 25
Remembering Claude Lemieux’s NHL career in photos
Claude Lemieux’s NHL career was marked by playoff performances and key moments across multiple teams.
See the moments that trace Lemieux’s path through a long career on the ice, including his role in defining games.
Above, Goaltender Mike Richter of the USA stops Claude Lemieux of Canada on a breakaway in the third period the World Cup of Hockey at Molson Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada in 1996. Richter made 35 saves in the game and was voted the tournament’s MVP.
(Glenn Cratty, Getty Images)
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Remembering Claude Lemieux’s NHL career in photos
Claude Lemieux of Canada and Keith Tkachuk of the USA go at each other after a fight broke out 20 seconds into the first period of the USA- Canada World Cup of Ice Hockey at the CoreStates Center in Philadelphia. USA defeated Canada.
(Andy Lyons, Getty Images)
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Remembering Claude Lemieux’s NHL career in photos
Right wing Claude Lemieux of the Colorado Avalanche in action during a game against the New Jersey Devils at the McNichols Sports Arena in Denver, Colorado in 1997. The Devils won the game 4-1.
(Al Bello, Getty Images)
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Remembering Claude Lemieux’s NHL career in photos
Rightwinger Claude Lemieux of the Colorado Avalanche in action during a game against the Los Angeles Kings at the McNichols Sports Arena in 1997 in Denver, Colorado. The Avalanche lost to the Kings 4-2.
(Nevin Reid, Getty Images)
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Remembering Claude Lemieux’s NHL career in photos
Right wing Claude Lemieux of the Colorado Avalanche in action during a game against the New Jersey Devils in 1997.
(Al Bello, Getty Images)
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Remembering Claude Lemieux’s NHL career in photos
Claude Lemieux of the Colorado Avalanche controls the puck during the game against the Nashville Predators at the McNichols Arena in Denver, Colorado in 1997. The Avalanche defeated the Predators 3-1.
(Stephen Dunn, Getty Images)
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Remembering Claude Lemieux’s NHL career in photos
Right wing Claude Lemieux of the Colorado Avalanche in action during a game against the Boston Bruins at the McNichols Sports Arena in Denver, Colorado in 1997.
(Brian Bahr, Getty Images)
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Remembering Claude Lemieux’s NHL career in photos
Right wing Claude Lemieux, left wing Waleri Kamensky of the Colorado Avalanche celebrate during a playoff game against the Detroit Red wings at the McNichols Arena in Denver, Colorado. The Red wings won the game 4-2.
(Jed Jacobsohn, Getty Images)
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Remembering Claude Lemieux’s NHL career in photos
Right wing Claude Lemieux of the Colorado Avalanche in action during a game against the Calgary Flames at the McNichols Arena in Denver, Colorado in 1998. The Flames won the game 3-1.
(Brian Bahr, Getty Images)
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Remembering Claude Lemieux’s NHL career in photos
Right wing Claude Lemieux of the Colorado Avalanche in action during a game against the Buffalo Sabres at the Marine Midland Arena in Buffalo, New York in 1998. The teams won the game 2-2.
(Rick Stewart, Getty Images)
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Remembering Claude Lemieux’s NHL career in photos
Claude Lemieux of the New Jersey Devils skates on the ice during the game against the Philadelphia Flyers at the Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey in 1999. The Devils defeated the Flyers 2-1.
(Jamie Squire, Getty Images)
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Remembering Claude Lemieux’s NHL career in photos
Right winger Claude Lemieux of the New Jersey Devils takes a shot against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first period of Game 1 of their NHL semi-final game at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada in 2000. The Maple Leafs won the game 2-1.
(Rick Stewart, Getty Images)
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Remembering Claude Lemieux’s NHL career in photos
Claude Lemieux of the New Jersey Devils celebrates with the Stanley Cup Trophy as he skates around the rink after winning the 2000 Stanley Cup Finals game against the Dallas Stars at Reunion Arena on June 10, 2000, in Dallas, Texas.
(Jim McIsaac, Getty Images)
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Remembering Claude Lemieux’s NHL career in photos
Claude Lemieux of the New Jersey Devils and Scott Gomez celebrate with the Stanley Cup Trophy after winning the 2000 Stanley Cup Finals game against the Dallas Stars at Reunion Arena on June 10, 2000, in Dallas, Texas.
(Jim McIsaac, Getty Images)
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Remembering Claude Lemieux’s NHL career in photos
Right wing Claude Lemieux #22 of the Phoenix Coyotes waits for the puck during the NHL game against the Torono Maple Leafs at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada in 2001. The Leafs defeated the Coyotes 6-3.
(Dave Sandford, Getty Images/NHLI)
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Remembering Claude Lemieux’s NHL career in photos
Right wing Claude Lemieux of the Phoenix Coyotes pins right wing Ryan VandenBussche of the Chicago Blackhawks against the boards during NHL action at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois in 2002.
(Jonathan Daniel, Getty Images)
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Remembering Claude Lemieux’s NHL career in photos
Claude Lemieux of the Dallas Stars poses for a portrait on September 15, 2003, at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.
(Getty Images, Getty Images)
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Remembering Claude Lemieux’s NHL career in photos
Claude Lemieux of the San Jose Sharks warms up before playing the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on February 15, 2009 in Newark, New Jersey. The Devils defeated the Sharks 6-5.
(Jim McIsaac, Getty Images)
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Remembering Claude Lemieux’s NHL career in photos
Claude Lemieux of the San Jose Sharks warms up against the Anaheim Ducks during Game Three of the Western Conference Quarterfinal Round of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Honda Center on April 21, 2009, in Anaheim, California.
(Harry How, Getty Images)
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Remembering Claude Lemieux’s NHL career in photos
Claude Lemieux of the San Jose Sharks looks on against the Anaheim Ducks during Game Three of the Western Conference Quarterfinal Round of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Honda Center on April 21, 2009, in Anaheim, California.
(Harry How, Getty Images)
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Remembering Claude Lemieux’s NHL career in photos
Former Monreal Canadien Claude Lemieux skates during the Centennial Celebration ceremonies prior to the NHL game between the Montreal Canadiens and Boston Bruins on December 4, 2009, at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Canadiens defeated the Bruins 5-1.
(Richard Wolowicz, Getty Images)
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Remembering Claude Lemieux’s NHL career in photos
Former New Jersey Devils player Claude Lemieux is introduced during a ceremony honoring the 1995 Stanley Cup Championship team before the game between the New Jersey Devils and the Philadelphia Flyers on March 8, 2015, at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
(Elsa, Getty Images)
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Remembering Claude Lemieux’s NHL career in photos
The 1995 New Jersey Devils Stanley Cup championship team is honored before the game between the New Jersey Devils and the Philadelphia Flyers at Prudential Center.
(Ed Mulholland, USA TODAY Sports)
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Remembering Claude Lemieux’s NHL career in photos
Cammi Granato of the USA Legends celebrates her goal with Claude Lemieux #22 of the Canada Legends at the Legends Classic Hockey Game at the Air Canada Centre on November 7, 2010, in Toronto, Canada.
(Bruce Bennett, Getty Images)
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Remembering Claude Lemieux’s NHL career in photos
Claude Lemieux of the Canada Legends enjoys a goal against of the USA Legends at the Legends Classic Hockey Game at the Air Canada Centre on November 7, 2010, in Toronto, Canada.
(Bruce Bennett, Getty Images)
USA TODAY Sports contacted the Palm Beach County Medical Examiner’s Office but has been notified that the information it has for Lemieux is “exempt from public records.”
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The Palm County Medical Examiner’s Office told USA TODAY Sports in response to an open records request that “all public records you have requested for Claude Lemieux are exempt from public records as specified under SB 474 – FS 406.135. (2) (c).”
The Florida statute cited by the Palm County Medical Examiner’s Office was enacted in 2024 and exempts photos, videos, audio recordings and autopsy reports related to suicide victims from general public records requests.
There have been several studies on the possible connection with suicide and CTE. A 2021 study conducted by a group of scientists from Switzerland, Italy and other countries surveyed the effects of CTE on boxers, hockey players and football players.
“Progressive neuropsychiatric symptoms resulting from CTE could lead to suicidal ideation (SI) and eventually suicidal behaviour (SB), especially the more severe forms of SB such as medical serious suicide attempt (SA) and completed suicide,” the study said. “For example, CTE was confirmed in post-mortem examinations of over 100 former National Football League players and it was hypothesized that suicide in four of them could have resulted from CTE-induced behavioural changes, but it is difficult to make a direct connection in these cases.”
– Contributing: Mike Brehm and Mark Giannotto
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Claude Lemieux’s family to donate brain to CTE research
