Today, the hockey world mourns the loss of Larry Brooks. In the fifteen years I’ve closely followed the Rangers, Larry was the journalist that covered the team. He seemed to never miss a thing, and would never shy away from asking players and coaches tough questions that they may not have wanted to hear, but fans, and Larry, wanted the answers to them. I, along with many others, didn’t always agree with Larry’s opinions, but that’s what made reading his work great. His strong opinions and passion would spark my passion, and start conversations with friends, and even strangers, about our favorite team and our favorite sport. Larry’s work in the game of hockey spans a period of time longer than I’ve been alive, and it’s no wonder he is recognized by the Hockey Hall of Fame as an Elmer Ferguson Award winner. Larry left no stone unturned, crossed every T and dotted every I, and did the best journalistic work I’ve ever seen from someone covering a team. He is the standard for sports journalism, and with the outpouring of love online today, it’s evident he touched every person he worked with in the industry, and they’re better versions of themselves for having met Larry.
I’d like to include some tweets from people that were 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 unmatched in the tri-state area, but it spread well beyond those affiliated with the Rangers, Islanders, and Devils. He will be missed in post game scrums in every building in the league, and more importantly, he will be missed dearly by those close to him. Thank you, Larry, for your hard work and inspiration to those around you, so that those who continue to cover the game in your absence can carry on your legacy.
The Morning Skate 