Florida Panthers forward Brad Marchand took a leave from his NHL team to serve as guest coach for a Halifax under-18 hockey squad, supporting longtime friend JP MacCallum after the death of his 10-year-old daughter from cancer. The Wednesday night game at the Halifax Forum doubled as a fundraiser for the family, drawing over 1,000 attendees. Marchand, a co-owner of the team, missed a Panthers game but plans to return Saturday.
Brad Marchand, a forward for the Florida Panthers and native of Hammonds Plains, Nova Scotia, stepped away from his NHL duties to volunteer as coach for the March and Mill Company Hunters, an under-18 team in the Nova Scotia U18 Major Hockey League. The gesture came in support of head coach JP MacCallum, Marchand's friend of 25 years and former trainer, whose daughter Selah Panacci-MacCallum passed away on Friday at age 10 after a battle with cancer.
The Wednesday night game at the Halifax Forum was organized as a fundraiser, featuring a bake sale, 50-50 draw, and raffle for an autographed Marchand Panthers jersey, with proceeds benefiting the MacCallum family. More than 1,000 people attended to show support, highlighting the tight-knit Nova Scotia hockey community.
"It's a very devastating time. Selah was an incredible girl with so much love and joy and touched so many people's lives," Marchand told CBC News after the game. He added that Selah loved hockey and her father's team, saying, "She would be very proud we are all here supporting her tonight and supporting her dad."
Marchand's outdoor apparel company, March & Mill Company, sponsors the Hunters, and he is a co-owner and league alumnus. The Panthers supported his decision, telling him to "go home and come back when you're ready." Marchand missed Florida's Tuesday game against the Anaheim Ducks but is expected to rejoin the team for Saturday's matchup against the Dallas Stars at Amerant Bank Arena.
Paul Graham, president of the Nova Scotia U18 Major Hockey League, praised the effort in a statement: "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." Graham noted Marchand's deep ties to the area, saying, "He's an alumni of our league and he hasn't forgotten where he's come from."