NHL Community Unites in Support of Brad Larsen After Wife’s Passing

In a heartfelt display of solidarity, the NHL community is rallying around former Blue Jackets coach Brad Larsen and his two children, Ty and Faith, following the tragic loss of his wife, Hannah, who passed away after a prolonged battle with cancer. The news of Hannah’s death was shared publicly by former Blue Jackets head coach John Tortorella during a recent ESPN broadcast, where he extended his condolences to the Larsen family.

Hannah was not only a source of support for Brad during his own battles with cancer but also a cherished member of the hockey community. The Blue Jackets organization, where Larsen dedicated nearly a decade of his coaching career, expressed their sorrow on March 13 through social media, offering their “deepest condolences” and “warmest thoughts” to the family during this difficult time.

Before taking the helm as head coach, Larsen served as both an assistant and head coach for the Blue Jackets’ AHL affiliate in Springfield, Massachusetts. He was retained by Tortorella for six seasons, ultimately stepping into the head coaching role after Tortorella’s departure. However, Larsen’s tenure was marked by challenges, including a series of injuries that led to his dismissal at the conclusion of the 2022-23 season.

After leaving the Blue Jackets, Larsen chose to remain in the Columbus area, taking a year off to coach his son Ty’s youth hockey team. On June 11, 2024, he was hired by the Calgary Flames as an NHL assistant, but his professional journey took another turn when he took an indefinite leave of absence on December 8, 2024, to care for Hannah as her condition deteriorated.

Following the announcement of Hannah’s passing, an outpouring of support flooded social media from across the hockey world. Former Blue Jackets coach Pascal Vincent, who succeeded Larsen for the 2023-24 season, shared his grief, stating, “Yesterday, we received the terribly sad news of the passing of Hannah, wife of my friend Brad Larsen, after a long battle. My heart is broken for Brad, their two children, and all of Hannah’s family. Sending them all my love and deepest condolences.” Vincent now coaches the Laval Rocket, the AHL affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.