Panthers star steps away from team to coach friend's youth hockey team for heartbreaking reason

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Florida Panthers star Brad Marchand stepped away from the team to serve as a guest coach for his friend's under-18 hockey team in Canada after the friend's daughter died of cancer. JP MacCallum's daughter, Selah, was 10 years old.

Marchand traveled back to his hometown of Halifax, Nova Scotia, to coach the March and Mill Co. Hunters, which he co-owns.

The game served as a fundraiser for the MacCallum family, featuring a raffle for an autographed Marchand jersey.

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Florida Panthers left wing Brad Marchand skates against the Boston Bruins during the first period at TD Garden. (Winslow Townson/Imagn Images)

"Please join us in celebrating an amazing night at the rink made possible by the ongoing giving nature of a 10-year-old girl that loved the game with all her (heart)," Marchand posted on Instagram.

Marchand missed Florida’s game Tuesday night against the Anaheim Ducks. Head coach Paul Maurice said he expects Marchand to be available when the back-to-back defending Stanley Cup champions face the Dallas Stars Saturday.

Florida Panthers left wing Brad Marchand, who played for more than 15 seasons with the Boston Bruins, taps his heart in acknowledgment of a standing ovation during a break in the first period in Boston Oct. 21, 2025. (Charles Krupa/AP Photo)

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Marchand quickly became a fan favorite in Florida after spending the majority of his first 16 seasons with the Boston Bruins. In New England, he won a Stanley Cup in 2011. However, amid a subpar season, Boston traded its longtime