Canada coach Jon Cooper mourns father days after Olympic final loss

Canada head coach Jon Cooper has stepped away from the Tampa Bay Lightning following the death of his father just days after the Winter Olympic final.

Cooper guided his nation to the gold medal match against the United States, only to suffer an agonising overtime defeat against their arch-rivals.

However, the experienced tactician was dealt a far more significant blow shortly after returning from the Games.

His father, Robert Cooper, passed away in the immediate aftermath of the tournament, prompting the coach to take compassionate leave.

Lightning rally in Cooper’s absence

The long-serving Lightning boss has stepped back from NHL duties to be with his family during this difficult period.

He missed the first two games upon his return, handing the reins to his coaching staff.

Assistant coach Rob Zettler took charge of the bench for the clash against the Toronto Maple Leafs last night.

Tampa Bay responded with a spirited performance, securing a 4-2 victory over their Atlantic Division rivals.

‘The boys played their hearts out’

Speaking after the victory, Zettler highlighted the emotional significance of the result for the squad.

“The boys played their hearts out for him.”

Canadian centre Brayden Point, who also featured at the Olympics under Cooper, expressed the dressing room’s support for their grieving manager.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with him. It’s a really tough time for him and this was a big win for us.”

The forward emphasised the team’s motivation to secure the two points for their absent leader.

“We really wanted to get this for him.”

It remains unconfirmed when Cooper will return to the bench, with the franchise insisting family matters take precedence.