<p>In advance of Sunday&#8217;s game between the Calgary Flames and Dallas Stars, the club shared a bit of unfortunate news. Per the club, assistant coach Brad Larsen has left the club on indefinite leave to tend to a family matter.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Flames assistant coach Brad Larsen has taken an indefinite leave of absence from the team to attend to a family matter. <a href="https://t.co/rPvc1Fwy7C">pic.twitter.com/rPvc1Fwy7C</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) <a href="https://twitter.com/NHLFlames/status/1865796291944472710?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 8, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Larsen is in his first season with the Flames. He joined the coaching staff in June, replacing Marc Savard. He and Cail MacLean are responsible for the forwards, while Larsen is also responsible for the team&#8217;s penalty kill.</p>
<p>Shortly after his hiring was announced, <a href="https://flamesnation.ca/news/brad-larsen-is-back-to-work-with-the-calgary-flames-after-a-season-away-from-pro-hockey">Larsen chatted with <em>FlamesNation</em> about joining the Flames</a>:</p>
<blockquote><p>&#8220;Honestly, the big decision was the people that I get an opportunity to work with,&#8221; said Larsen. &#8220;And after having many conversations with Ryan [Huska] and some of his staff, and with Connie [Flames general manager Craig Conroy] a little bit, it just felt very comfortable. With our conversations and their expectations and where the team’s at and their vision, so that was real important to me. When I commit to something, I like to stick to it and I want to see it through. Sometimes there’s hard years in there, and okay. I think there’s lots to learn in those hard years and you grow together. That’s the exciting part, there’s a really good mix of young and older guys here, and I’m just looking forward to getting back to work.&#8221;</p></blockquote>
<p>A product of British Columbia&#8217;s Okanagan region, the 47-year-old has been involved in high-level hockey extensively. As a player, he suited up as a left winger and played his junior hockey in the Western Hockey League with the Swift Current Broncos. He was drafted by Ottawa in 1995, didn&#8217;t come to terms on a deal, and was drafted (again) by Colorado in 1997. He embarked upon a lengthy pro career, playing 12 seasons and spending time with Colorado, Atlanta and Anaheim in the NHL, and Hershey, Chicago and Portland in the AHL. He won two World Junior gold medals with Canada.</p>
<p>As a coach, Larsen spent four seasons with the AHL&#8217;s Springfield Falcons (two as assistant coach, two as head coach) before a nine season run with the Columbus Blue Jackets, culminating in two seasons as head coach.</p>
<p>All the best to Larsen and his family, and hopefully he&#8217;s able to return to his coaching duties soon.</p>


In advance of Sunday's game between the Calgary Flames and Dallas Stars, the club shared a bit of unfortunate news. Per the club, assistant coach Brad Larsen has left the club on indefinite leave to tend to a family matter.
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https://twitter.com/NHLFlames/status/1865796291944472710

Larsen is in his first season with the Flames. He joined the coaching staff in June, replacing Marc Savard. He and Cail MacLean are responsible for the forwards, while Larsen is also responsible for the team's penalty kill.

Shortly after his hiring was announced, <a href="https://flamesnation.ca/news/brad-larsen-is-back-to-work-with-the-calgary-flames-after-a-season-away-from-pro-hockey">Larsen chatted with <em>FlamesNation</em> about joining the Flames</a>:
<blockquote>"Honestly, the big decision was the people that I get an opportunity to work with," said Larsen. "And after having many conversations with Ryan [Huska] and some of his staff, and with Connie [Flames general manager Craig Conroy] a little bit, it just felt very comfortable. With our conversations and their expectations and where the team’s at and their vision, so that was real important to me. When I commit to something, I like to stick to it and I want to see it through. Sometimes there’s hard years in there, and okay. I think there’s lots to learn in those hard years and you grow together. That’s the exciting part, there’s a really good mix of young and older guys here, and I’m just looking forward to getting back to work."</blockquote>
A product of British Columbia's Okanagan region, the 47-year-old has been involved in high-level hockey extensively. As a player, he suited up as a left winger and played his junior hockey in the Western Hockey League with the Swift Current Broncos. He was drafted by Ottawa in 1995, didn't come to terms on a deal, and was drafted (again) by Colorado in 1997. He embarked upon a lengthy pro career, playing 12 seasons and spending time with Colorado, Atlanta and Anaheim in the NHL, and Hershey, Chicago and Portland in the AHL. He won two World Junior gold medals with Canada.

As a coach, Larsen spent four seasons with the AHL's Springfield Falcons (two as assistant coach, two as head coach) before a nine season run with the Columbus Blue Jackets, culminating in two seasons as head coach.

All the best to Larsen and his family, and hopefully he's able to return to his coaching duties soon.

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