The wife of NHL coach Brad Larsen has tragically died from cancer more than a year after his decision to take leave from the Calgary Flames amid her worsening condition.
News of Hannah Larsen’s passing was revealed on ESPN by former Columbus Blue Jackets head coach John Tortorella, who counted Brad among his assistants with the team. Brad, an ex-NHL left wing, later became the Blue Jackets’ head coach before taking an assistant position in Calgary in 2024. That December he would announce his leave to be with Hannah and their two children, Faith and Ty.
Both the Blue Jackets and Flames have shared their condolences with the family online.
‘Deepest condolences go out to Brad Larsen and his family following the passing of his wife Hannah,’ read a post from the Flames. ‘Our thoughts and prayers are with the Larsen family and all of those who knew and loved Hannah.’
Pascal Vincent, a former colleague who replaced Brad on the Blue Jackets’ bench, also shared a few words on X.
‘Yesterday, we received the terribly sad news of the passing of Hannah, wife of my friend Brad Larsen, after a long battle,’ he wrote. ‘My heart is broken for Brad, their two children, and all of Hannah’s family. Sending them all my love and deepest condolences.’
Hannah Larsen, the wife of NHL coach Brad Larsen, tragically died from cancer more than a year after Brad’s decision to take leave from the Calgary Flames amid her worsening condition
Brad Larsen, a Canadian-born former NHL left wing, served as an assistant and head coach for the Columbus Blue Jackets before taking an assistant position in Calgary in 2024
A graduate of Georgia Southern University, Hannah is described as a ‘devout Christian,’ avid horseback rider, artist and someone who cared passionately about animal rescue. A web page from her alma mater claims Hannah was named the Miss East Georgia State College Scholarship Pageant winner in 1994.
She and Brad were married for 15 years, according to her obituary, which encouraged readers to donate to one of several shelters in central Ohio. In fact, Hannah spent years working with Save Ohio Pets, according to Tortorella’s charity, The John & Christine Tortorella Family Foundation.
‘The Larsen Family has supported us from the beginning,’ read a 2024 Facebook post from SAVE Ohio Pets. ‘They don’t just sponsor a clinic each year…they show up and put in the work. They bring snacks (we love snacks), shave matted dogs (we don’t like matted dogs), trim nails, pass out pet food, clean rooms, cuddle animals, and sometimes even take them home.
‘The cost to cover all of these services is WELL over $5000 so the fact that 100% of our April expenses have been covered allows us to exhale (like a BIG exhale), and reflect on how thankful we are to have friends like Brad and Hannah Larsen.’
The Larsen family has a private service planned for Hannah.
They previously gained some notoriety in 2019 following an emergency with then-7-year-old Ty.
As reported at the time by The Athletic, Brad was forced to rush from a practice in Detroit to an Ohio hospital after learning Ty had been kicked in the head by a horse on the family’s farm.
Hannah spent years working with Save Ohio Pets, according to Tortorella’s charity
Ty suffered a broken jaw but was able to recover after surgery.
‘An inch or two higher or to the side … it could have been so much worse,’ Larsen said. ‘An angel was looking after us.’
‘I’m telling you what … he’s gangbusters now,’ Larsen added. ‘Kids are resilient. He’s been a trooper.’
Brad’s run as head coach in Columbus also included time with Johnny Gaudreau, the NHL star who was struck by an SUV and killed with his brother as the two were biking along a country road on the eve of their sister’s wedding in 2024.
The driver, Sean Higgins, has pleaded not guilty to charges of aggravated manslaughter, reckless vehicular homicide and other counts.
Gaudreau was honored by Team USA following their gold-medal victory over Canada in the Winter Olympics.
