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Why Jon Cooper isn't coaching Lightning tonight with sad news originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Tampa Bay Lightning return from the Olympic break on Wednesday night with a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
They'll be without their head coach Jon Cooper, though, who has been announced as missing both Wednesday and Thursday games for the Lightning.
Cooper just finished up coaching Team Canada to a silver medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy.
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Why isn't Jon Cooper coaching tonight?
Cooper is absent due to the death of his father.
The Lightning announced the news on Wednesday morning.
The Lightning announce Head Coach Jon Cooper will not be behind the #GoBolts bench tonight or tomorrow due to the passing of his father.
— Benjamin Pierce (@BenjaminJReport) February 25, 2026
Thoughts go out to Coop and his family.
Jon's father, Bob, ran a construction company. Bob and his wife Christine raised Jon.
He coached the Canada team with the utmost professionalism halfway across the world without even letting on, but probably knowing what was happening back home. I’ll always have nothing but respect for Coop.
— Josh Bradshaw (@Jb5haw) February 25, 2026
The Lightning are home Wednesday night against the Maple Leafs.
On Thursday, they travel to take on the Carolina Hurricanes.
After those two games that Cooper is slated to miss, the Lightning return home Saturday to host the red-hot Buffalo Sabres.
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