Brad Marchand comes home to support a grieving N.S. coach and friend

NHL star Brad Marchand made a surprise appearance at a Halifax U18 hockey game on Wednesday night to support a long-time friend whose young daughter died recently.

JP MacCallum is the head coach of the March and Mill Company Hunters, but he's taking time away to mourn his 10-year-old daughter, Selah Panacci-MacCallum, who died after a battle with cancer.

Marchand, a forward with the Florida Panthers, is in the thick of the regular NHL season — but said he didn't hesitate to come home and fill in for MacCallum on the bench.

"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 on Wednesday night. "So I had to be there for them."

Selah passed away on Friday. Marchand said she was sick for a long time, but was a fighter.

"She had such a big heart and she was so strong. She had such an incredible group of friends and family around her and she lived life to the fullest and she made a huge impact on my life, on my family's life, my kids, and we all grew to love her so much," Marchand said.

More than a thousand people showed up at The Halifax Forum on Wednesday night to support the family.

Marchand said he has been friends with JP for 25 years and that he wouldn't be where he is today without him.

"We've formed into brothers and our families are extremely close. He's been in all the big moments, all the tough times he's been there for me. He's been there every step of the way," Marchand.

Marchand said the Panthers have been supportive of his decision to come home for his friend.

"They basically said go home and come back when you're ready," Marchand said.

The game was a fundraiser, with proceeds from a bake sale and 50-50 draw going to