Ancient Blue Jackets coach Brad Larsen and his two children, Ty and Faith, feel the embrace of the NHL after the death of his wife Hannah after a long battle with cancer.
The news of Hannah Larsen’s death was publicly revealed by John Tortorella, former Blue Jackets head coachwho extended his condolences to his former assistant in Columbus and the Larsen family on March 12 during an appearance as an ESPN studio analyst. Larsen has battled cancer twice himself, and Hannah has played a key role in supporting him each time.
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The Blue Jackets, Team Larsen spent nearly a decade working as a coachreleased a statement on March 13 on social media offering the club’s “deepest condolences” and “warmest thoughts.”
During his time with the Blue Jackets, Larsen coached the team’s AHL affiliate as an assistant and head coach when located in Springfield, Massachusetts, before joining former coach Brad Richards’ staff in 2014-15. Tortorella kept him on the team for six seasons previously leave the Blue Jackets on mutual terms this paved the way for Larsen to replace him as head coach.
Larsen spent two difficult seasons leading Columbus’ bench amid a rash of injuries that led to his firing at the end of the 2022-23 season.
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Larsen and his family remained in the Columbus area, and the former NHL coach took a year off from his professional career to work with his son Ty’s youth team.
He was hired by the Calgary Flames on June 11, 2024 to restart his NHL assistant career, but took an indefinite leave of absence on December 8, 2024 to join his family and care for his wife after his condition worsened.
After news of Hannah Larsen’s death broke, condolences from many hockey players were posted on social media, including former Blue Jackets coach Pascal Vincent, who worked closely with Larsen as an assistant and replaced him for the 2023-24 season.
Vincent is now in his second season as head coach of the Laval Rocket, AHL affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens.
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“Yesterday we received the terrible sad news that Hannah, wife of my friend Brad Larsen, passed away after a long battle,” he said. “My heart is broken for Brad, their two children and all of Hannah’s family. I send them all my love and deepest condolences.”
Brian Hedger, Blue Jackets reporter can be reached at [email protected] And @BrianHedger.bsky.social
This article was originally published on The Columbus Dispatch: Blue Jackets and NHL welcome Brad Larsen after the death of his wife
