Sports journalist Lawrence Mel Brooks, mainly known as Larry Brooks, succumbed to death after a prolonged fight with cancer. Brooks spent nearly 40 years in the field of sports journalism, mainly covering hockey. On Thursday, the New York Post announced the news of his death.
A fearless voice for the game, the players, and the press
Larry Brooks was born in 1950 in New York City. For most of his career, he has worked for the New York Post as a hockey journalist. He is mainly known for covering stories of the New York Rangers in the National Hockey League.
Brooks did not only write about hockey, he also worked directly as a part of the game. He has worked as the Senior Vice President of Communications of the New Jersey Devils for a decade. He also served as the President of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association. In 2018, he was awarded the Elmer Ferguson Memorial Award by the 'Hockey Hall of Fame.'
From the league office to the locker room, tributes pour in for Larry Brooks
National Hockey League Commissioner Gary Bettman has issued a statement after the news broke out. The statement reads, "Larry Brooks, a Hockey Hall of Fame Elmer Ferguson Memorial Award recipient, will long be remembered in the hockey world for his insightful analysis not only of the New York Rangers but the entire NHL, both on and off the ice. Larry’s love of hockey was evident in his writing at the New York Post in two stints over nearly four decades. Larry didn’t pull punches and when you read his work, you always knew where he stood. He was a staunch advocate for the players and for the reporters who cover the game."
He has also paid his tribute and said, "Larry also worked for a decade with the New Jersey Devils as a communications executive, drawing himself even closer to the game he dedicated his life to. On behalf of the National Hockey League, we mourn Larry’s passing, and extend our sincere condolences to his son Jordan, daughter-in-law Joanna, his grandchildren, and all of his colleagues at the New York Post."
Former Rangers forward Jimmy Vesey has shared in his post on X(formerly Twitter), "Larry Brooks was synonymous with the New York Rangers. From the articles to the legendary YouTube videos I watched growing up, nobody covered hockey like him. It never seemed possible that he wouldn’t be around forever."
Vesey has also expressed his gratitude for being able to experience Brooks' work and finally to be able to work with him. He finally went on saying, "He was a legend and one of one. Rest in peace, my friend."
