Today, the hockey world mourns the loss of Larry Brooks. In the fifteen years I followed the Rangers closely, so was Larry the journalist who covered the team. He never seemed to miss a beat and never shied away from asking players and coaches tough questions that they might not have wanted to hear, but the fans, and Larry, wanted the answers. I, like many others, didn’t always agree with Larry’s opinions, but that’s what made reading his work so wonderful. His strong opinions and passion would ignite my passion and spark conversations with friends, and even strangers, about our favorite team and sport. Larry’s work in hockey spans longer than I have been alive, and it is no wonder he is recognized by the Hockey Hall of Fame as a winner of the Elmer Ferguson Award. Larry left no stone unturned, crossed every T and dotted every I, and did some of the best journalism I’ve ever seen from anyone covering a team. He is the standard for sports journalism, and with the outpouring of love online today, it is clear that he has touched everyone he has worked with in the industry, and they are a better version of themselves for having met Larry.
I’d like to add some tweets from people close to him, to give a better idea of what Larry Brooks meant to the game of hockey.
Larry Brooks’ impact on the hockey community was unparalleled in the tri-state area, but spread far beyond those affiliated with the Rangers, Islanders and Devils. He will be missed in post-match scrums in every building in the league, and more importantly, he will be dearly missed by those close to him. Thank you, Larry, for your hard work and inspiration for those around you so that those who continue to cover the game in your absence can continue your legacy.
#memory #Larry #Brooks