Larry Brooks, a titan of hockey journalism, has left us, and the rink of New York sports reporting will never be the same.
The iconic New York Post writer, who covered the Rangers, Devils, and Islanders with unmatched grit for 38 years over two tenures, passed away on Thursday morning at the age of 75 after a short fight with cancer.
Growing up on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, Brooks was a die-hard Rangers and Yankees fan from the start, a passion that would fuel his storied career. His early days saw him covering the chaotic Bronx Zoo Yankees in 1977 after the All-Star Game, proving he could swing with the heavy hitters of baseball writing before focusing on the ice.
By 1982, Brooks took a detour from reporting to serve as vice president of communications for the New Jersey Devils, a role he held for a decade. It was a shift that deepened his insider knowledge, even if it meant trading his pen for a press release temporarily.
Returning to the Post for his second tenure, Brooks became the go-to voice for hockey in the tri-state area, shaping narratives around the Rangers, Devils, and Islanders. His bond with Lou Lamoriello, a 38-year friendship forged through Lamoriello’s stints with the Devils and Islanders, gave him unparalleled access and insight.
Brooks didn’t just report—he influenced. Whether pushing for the Rangers to retire Brad Park’s jersey or crowning Henrik Lundqvist as “King Henrik,” his columns often moved the needle, even if some of his takes ruffled feathers in a world obsessed with political correctness over plain talk.
His career wasn’t without clashes, notably a well-known spat with former Rangers coach John Tortorella from 2008 to 2013. Yet, in a refreshing break from today’s cancel culture, they mended fences, with Tortorella reaching out in Brooks’ final week—a reminder that real men resolve their differences.
On November 12, 2018, Brooks received the Elmer Ferguson Memorial Award from the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, a fitting tribute to his impact. “He was the best hockey writer of the past 50 years,” said Mark Everson, a colleague who knew Brooks’ knack for cutting through the noise (New York Post).
Brooks also played a role in pivotal moments, like during the 2003 Stanley Cup Finals when his reporting on a Ducks executive’s parade route comments—initially denied but later confirmed—helped fuel the Devils’ drive to win Game 7. In an era where progressive agendas often distort sports narratives, Brooks stuck to the facts, letting the story speak.
Beyond the headlines, Brooks mentored the next generation, including Mollie Walker, the current Rangers writer for the Post, drilling into her the need to master the NHL labor agreement. His no-nonsense approach wasn’t about gatekeeping but ensuring the craft stayed rigorous against today’s trend of shallow, click-driven reporting.
His personal life was equally rich, though touched by loss with the passing of his wife, Janis, in 2020. Survived by his son Jordan, daughter-in-law Joanna, and grandchildren Scott, 14, and Reese, 12, Brooks’ legacy off the page includes a family that knew his softer side.
Even in his final days, his love for hockey endured, with friends like Lamoriello joking about catching Brooks as a hockey grandfather at Scott’s games. “I told Larry to send me Scott’s schedule, because I wanted to see what Hockey Grandfather Larry looked and sounded like,” Lamoriello quipped (New York Post).
Brooks’ columns weren’t just words—they were events, capable of shifting momentum as much as a star player’s shift on the ice. While some in today’s overly sensitive media might balk at his directness, his commitment to truth over feelings made him a standout in a field often swayed by trendy narratives.
His passing leaves a void in hockey journalism, especially for fans who valued unfiltered takes over sanitized soundbites. As the sports world mourns, it’s worth asking if the next generation can match his blend of passion and precision without bowing to the pressures of woke conformity.
