Tragedy strikes Lightning head coach Jon Cooper upon return to Tampa

Jon Cooper has faced an emotional whirlwind this week. The Tampa Bay Lightning head coach, who guided Team Canada to the Olympic gold-medal game only to come up short against the United States on Sunday, is now dealing with a far more personal heartbreak.

The Lightning announced that Cooper will not be behind the bench for tonight’s game, or tomorrow’s, as he temporarily steps away to attend to a family matter. The reason: the passing of Cooper’s father, Robert Cooper.

It is unknown when Robert died or his cause of death as no other details were immediately shared by the team or the family.

Cooper’s absence comes just days after the emotional toll of the Olympic gold medal loss, where he watched his captain Sidney Crosby sit out due to injury. Now, returning to Tampa, the Lightning organization and fans are rallying around him as he navigates this personal tragedy.

The Lightning are expected to manage operations without their head coach for the next two games, leaning on assistant coaches and team leadership to keep the squad focused while Cooper is with his family.

This is a reminder of the human side of sports, that even amid championship dreams and playoff pushes, life’s hardest moments don’t pause for the game.

From Tampa Bay to Milan Cortina and back, Cooper has shown remarkable resilience, but now the focus is where it should be: family.

We extend our deepest condolences to Jon Cooper and his loved ones during this heartbreaking time.