The spectre of American gun violence struck a deeply personal chord for Montreal Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis this past weekend. His eldest son, Ryan, was on the campus of Brown University during a mass shooting that left two people dead and nine others injured.
A Father's Agony During a Game
While the Canadiens were facing the New York Rangers in an overtime loss on Saturday, December 14, 2024, Ryan St. Louis, a 22-year-old senior and forward for the Brown University hockey team, was sheltering in place on the Providence, Rhode Island campus. The shooting erupted at an engineering and physics building, sending the university into lockdown as the gunman remained at large into Monday.
Following the Canadiens' 4-1 victory over the Edmonton Oilers at the Bell Centre on Sunday night, a somber Martin St. Louis opened his post-game press conference by addressing the tragedy. "He was sheltering during last night's game," St. Louis revealed about his son. "It's a tragedy. It hit home."
The Hall of Fame player turned coach expressed his profound grief and concern for the broader community. "I want to send my thoughts and prayers to everybody involved — the students, their families, that community," he stated. "Stuff like that shouldn't happen." He confirmed the immense relief felt by his family, adding, "He's safe, he's back home. It was a difficult time for everyone, so my thoughts go out to Brown and the community."
The St. Louis Family and Priorities
The incident underscores the constant tension between the demanding life of a professional NHL coach and family priorities, a balance St. Louis has navigated publicly before. Ryan and his brothers, Lucas (20) and Mason (17), have always been at the center of their parents' lives. The family home is in Connecticut, where St. Louis and his wife, Heather Caragol, first met at the University of Vermont.
This is not the first time a family health crisis has pulled St. Louis away from the Canadiens' bench. In March 2024, he left the team for four games to be with his youngest son, Mason, after he suffered a serious injury and subsequent complications from a youth hockey game. At that time, St. Louis emphasized, "As parents, nothing is more important to us than our three sons."
Reflecting on the immense commitment required for an NHL head coaching role, St. Louis once noted it is a "24/7" job where "everything in life comes at a price," often meaning time with family. He considered himself fortunate to have entered coaching when his children were older.
Community and National Reaction
The shooting at the prestigious Ivy League institution has sent shockwaves through academic and sporting communities across North America. A candlelight vigil was held on Sunday for the victims, as the search for the perpetrator continued.
U.S. President Donald Trump also addressed the tragedy, offering his "deepest regards" to the families of the deceased and wishing a speedy recovery to the injured, while remarking to a White House crowd that "things can happen."
For the Canadiens organization and its fans, the news was a stark reminder of the human stories behind the sport. The team, management, and ownership, including Geoff Molson, Jeff Gorton, and Kent Hughes, have historically supported St. Louis during family emergencies, as they did during his absence the previous spring.
The safety of Ryan St. Louis brings a measure of relief, but the event leaves a lasting impact on a coach, a family, and a university community now grappling with the aftermath of senseless violence.
