Trending Now - NHL Star Claude Lemieux's Brain Donated for CTE Research

WHO:

NY Post - Frederik Andersen, goaltender for the Hurricanes, paid tribute to Claude Lemieux in a statement.

NBC News Health - Claude Lemieux's daughter, Claudia Lemieux Bishop, released a statement regarding the brain donation.

US Magazine - Réjean Tremblay, a close friend and Montreal hockey columnist, stated that Lemieux "always lived this as an injustice, a heavy burden to bear."

The New York Times - Claude Lemieux, a former NHL player, was found dead at age 60.

The New York Times - Lemieux's family announced the donation of his brain to the Boston University CTE Center.

US Magazine - Réjean Tremblay, a close friend and Montreal hockey columnist, spoke about Lemieux's feelings of injustice.

WHAT:

Daily Mail Sports - Dennis Hull, a former NHL forward, died at age 81 just days after Claude Lemieux's death.

Boston.com - The Lemieux family stated they have given the CTE Center permission to publicly share any findings related to Lemieux's brain donation.

The New York Times - The Lemieux family stated, “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.”

The New York Times - Claude Lemieux was involved in 36 fights during his NHL career, according to hockeyfights.com.

The New York Times - Lemieux spent 16 years working as a player agent after ending his playing career.

ABC News - Lemieux played nearly 1,500 NHL games with six teams from 1983-2009.

ABC News - The Lemieux family stated, “By allowing his name to be connected to this research, we hope his life can contribute to greater understanding, more honest conversations and better protection for athletes and families in the years ahead.”

NBC News Health - The brain is being donated to the Boston University CTE Center to research the long-term effects of repetitive brain injuries.

Daily Mail Sports - Dennis Hull, a former NHL forward, died at age 81 just days after Claude Lemieux's death.

The New York Times - The Lemieux family stated, “By allowing his name to be connected to this research, we hope his life can contribute to greater understanding, more honest conversations, and better protection for athletes and families in the years ahead.”

The New York Times - Boston University announced that former Bruins enforcer Lyndon Byers has been diagnosed with stage 3 CTE following his death at age 61 last year, bringing the total number of NHL players with CTE studied at the university to 19 out of 20.

The New York Times - Lemieux's family is donating his brain for research into CTE, a degenerative brain disease.

The New York Times - Lemieux played 21 seasons of professional hockey and appeared in more than 1,400 games.

The New York Times - Lemieux was involved in 36 fights during his NHL career.

The New York Times - The NHL Alumni Association announced Lemieux's death.

The New York Times - The Palm Beach County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed Lemieux’s death but did not release records due to a Florida statute.

WHERE:

The New York Times - Lemieux was found dead in Palm Beach, Florida.

The New York Times - The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office responded to a suicide attempt at a furniture showroom owned by Lemieux and his wife in Lake Park, Florida.

The New York Times - The brain donation is to be made to the Boston University CTE Center.

WHEN:

Boston.com - Claude Lemieux died of suicide at age 60 on Thursday, according to authorities, after earlier in the week serving as the Montreal Canadiens' torchbearer prior to a playoff game.

Daily Mail Sports - Claude Lemieux's death was confirmed to have occurred on May 28th.

The New York Times - Lemieux was found dead earlier in the week.

The New York Times - Lemieux made a public appearance for a pregame torch ceremony before a game on Monday.

The New York Times - Lemieux finalized a contract for a client on Tuesday.

WHY:

IJR - Those who knew Lemieux reported that he had been carrying personal burdens for years, including disappointment over not being inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Boston.com - The Lemieux family expressed hope that Claude's life could contribute to greater understanding and better protection for athletes and families in the years ahead.

IJR - Those who knew Lemieux reported that he had been carrying personal burdens for years, including disappointment over not being inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

NBC News Health - The Lemieux family stated, “Claude was a beloved son, husband, father, grandfather, brother, friend and teammate. To the hockey world, he was one of the game’s most unforgettable competitors: a four-time Stanley Cup champion.”

IJR - Those who knew Lemieux reported that he had been carrying personal burdens for years, including disappointment over not being inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

The New York Times - The Lemieux family hopes that the donation will help future generations of athletes and families seeking answers about CTE.

The New York Times - The family emphasized that the decision to donate is a gift to science.

HOW:

The New York Times - The CTE Center has received permission from Lemieux’s family to identify him by name in connection with his donation and any findings it may publicly share in accordance with its research protocol.

The New York Times - The brain will be donated to the UNITE Brain Bank for research on concussions and CTE.

(UPDATED June 1, 2026 01:41 UTC)

Frederik Andersen, the goaltender for the Hurricanes, recently paid tribute to Claude Lemieux in a heartfelt statement. Just days after Lemieux's passing, the hockey world mourned the loss of Dennis Hull, a former NHL forward who died at the age of 81. In a significant development, the CTE Center has received permission from Lemieux’s family to publicly identify him in connection with his donation and any findings related to its research.

(UPDATED May 31, 2026 23:15 UTC)

Claude Lemieux, a former NHL player, tragically died by suicide at age 60, just days after serving as the Montreal Canadiens' torchbearer for a playoff game. The Lemieux family has granted the CTE Center permission to publicly share any findings from Claude's brain donation, hoping that this will lead to a greater understanding of the impacts of brain injuries. They expressed a desire for Claude's legacy to help improve protections for athletes and their families in the future.

(UPDATED May 31, 2026 19:17 UTC)

The Lemieux family has made a significant decision to donate Claude Lemieux's brain to science, emphasizing that this is a gift for future generations seeking answers, while urging that no conclusions should be drawn regarding any diagnosis at this time. During his NHL career, Lemieux was known for his toughness, participating in thirty-six fights, and he later spent sixteen years as a player agent after retiring from the ice. The CTE Center has received permission from the family to identify Lemieux by name in connection with their research and any findings they may share publicly.

(UPDATED May 31, 2026 17:16 UTC)

Claude Lemieux's death was confirmed to have occurred on May 28th, and he played nearly 1,500 NHL games with six teams from 1983 to 2009. The Lemieux family expressed their hope that by connecting his name to ongoing research, his life can contribute to a greater understanding and better protection for athletes and families in the future. Friends and acquaintances of Lemieux shared that he had been carrying personal burdens for years, including disappointment over not being inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

(UPDATED May 31, 2026 15:18 UTC)

Claudia Lemieux Bishop, the daughter of Claude Lemieux, has announced that the family is donating his brain to the Boston University CTE Center to aid in research on the long-term effects of repetitive brain injuries. In their statement, the Lemieux family expressed their deep love for Claude, describing him as a beloved son, husband, father, grandfather, brother, friend, and teammate, while also highlighting his remarkable legacy as a four-time Stanley Cup champion. This donation aims to contribute valuable insights into the impacts of brain injuries in sports.

(UPDATED May 31, 2026 11:24 UTC)

Dennis Hull, a former NHL forward, has passed away at the age of 81, just days after the death of Claude Lemieux. Réjean Tremblay, a close friend and Montreal hockey columnist, noted that Lemieux always felt a sense of injustice and carried a heavy burden regarding his exclusion from the Hockey Hall of Fame. Those close to Lemieux revealed that he had been grappling with personal disappointments for many years.

(UPDATED May 31, 2026 09:47 UTC)

Boston University has announced that Lyndon Byers, a former Bruins enforcer, was diagnosed with stage 3 CTE after his death at age 61 last year, marking a significant addition to the study of brain injuries in hockey, with 19 out of 20 NHL players examined at the university now found to have CTE. In a statement, the Lemieux family expressed hope that by allowing their loved one's name to be connected to this research, it could lead to greater understanding and better protection for athletes and families in the future. The CTE Center has received permission from the Lemieux family to publicly identify him in connection with his donation and any findings that may arise from the research.

(UPDATED May 31, 2026 08:01 UTC)

Claude Lemieux, a former NHL player known for his lengthy career, was found dead at age 60 in Palm Beach, Florida, with the NHL Alumni Association confirming the news. In a heartfelt gesture, Lemieux's family announced they will donate his brain to the Boston University CTE Center, hoping it will aid future generations in understanding the impacts of concussions and CTE. Close friend and hockey columnist Réjean Tremblay shared that Lemieux often felt a sense of injustice, underscoring the family's commitment to turning this tragedy into a gift for science.