NHL
Marchand is stepping away from the Panthers to go behind the bench in Halifax on Wednesday night after a tragedy in his friend's family. Sam Navarro / Imagn Images
Brad Marchand is stepping away from the Florida Panthers to go behind the bench Wednesday night for a friend whose daughter died.
Marchand took a leave of absence from the Panthers earlier this week to travel to his hometown of Halifax in support of local coach and trainer JP MacCallum, whose 10-year-old daughter Selah died last Friday after a year-long battle with cancer.
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Marchand will be coaching along with former NHLer Andrew Bodnarchuk in place of MacCallum as his March and Mill Co. Hunters of the Nova Scotia Under-18 Hockey League play the Halifax McDonald’s at the 6,300-seat Halifax Forum.
The game will be used as an opportunity to honor Selah’s memory and raise funds for her family, and Marchand has donated a signed jersey for an online raffle.
Marchand co-owns the junior team with former Boston Bruins teammate Kevan Miller, and its name comes from their outdoor apparel company.
A post shared by Brad Marchand (@bmarch63)
“This gesture reflects the true spirit of the hockey community in Nova Scotia, one built on compassion, loyalty, and connection that extends far beyond the rink,” league president Paul Graham said in a statement. “Our thoughts are with JP, his loved ones, and the entire Hunters organization.”
A longtime coach in Marchand’s home province, MacCallum has worked with him as an offseason trainer for more than 20 years, dating back to his time in junior hockey.
Marchand missed the Panthers’ game against the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday. Florida’s next game is at home versus the Dallas Stars on Saturday.
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James Mirtle is a senior writer covering the NHL for The Athletic. James joined The Athletic as the inaugural editor in Canada in 2016 and served as senior managing editor of The Athletic NHL for four years. Previously, he spent 12 years as a sportswriter with The Globe and Mail. A native of Kamloops, B.C., he appears regularly on Sportsnet 590 The Fan and other radio stations across Canada. Follow James on Twitter @mirtle
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