Winnipeg Jets coach Rick Bowness on leave after wife's seizure - ESPN

Winnipeg Jets head coach Rick Bowness is taking a leave of absence from the team following his wife Judy's seizure on Sunday evening. Assistant Scott Arniel will step in as interim coach until Bowness is able to return.

The Jets made their announcement in a statement on Monday, also revealing Judy remains in the hospital while undergoing further tests.

Bowness is in his second season behind Winnipeg's bench after being hired in July 2022 to replace then-interim coach Dave Lowry. The Jets went 46-33-3 under Bowness in his first year, losing to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Golden Knights in the first round of the playoffs.

Winnipeg is off to a 2-3-0 start this season; they'll next face the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday.

Arniel skated in 730 career NHL games — including over four seasons with the Jets from 1982-86 — before he transitioned into the coaching world. The 61-year-old was briefly head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets from 2010-12. He held NHL assistant roles with the Buffalo Sabres, New York Rangers, Washington Capitals and with the Jets since he was brought on by Bowness in 2022. Arniel played for Winnipeg during the same 1984-85 season when Bowness was an assistant with the club.

The Jets are asking for privacy as the Bowness family works through this challenging time.