Larry Brooks, the longtime New York Post hockey writer known for his sharp reporting, deep connections, and Hall of Fame career covering the New York Rangers, died Thursday after a brief battle with cancer. He was 75.
Brooks spent nearly four decades between two separate tenures with the Post, becoming one of the most respected and recognizable names in hockey journalism. His coverage of the NHL made him a must-read for fans and insiders alike.
“He was around the crease all the time,” said Dave Maloney to the New York Post, who broadcasts Rangers games for MSG TV and first met Brooks when he was a 19-year-old rookie defenseman for the team and Brooks was cutting his teeth at the Post. “He was a Hall of Famer at what he did and more often than not he tapped it in. On the journey to reach the crease he might get body checked and hit in the nose, maybe got his jaw broken. But he always got there.”
Brooks joined the Post in the mid-1970s, covering teams like the Yankees before shifting his focus to hockey. His reporting on the NHL became essential reading for generations of New York sports fans. His signature mix of scoops, analysis, and accountability set the tone for how a beat is covered in one of the toughest media markets in the world.
“For the last three decades, no one covered a sports beat in this city better than Larry did on the Rangers,” said Chris Shaw, the Post’s Executive Sports Editor. “Well before the Hockey Hall of Fame enshrined him, Larry had already earned a place among the legends who have graced the pages of The Best Sports in Town.”
In 2018, Brooks received the Elmer Ferguson Award from the Hockey Hall of Fame, one of the sport’s highest honors for a journalist.
Known for his persistence and professionalism, Brooks often found himself at the center of memorable hockey moments — from his famous exchanges with Rangers coach John Tortorella to his long-running advocacy for players and issues he believed in, including campaigning for the Rangers to retire Brad Park’s No. 2 jersey.
He also coined one of the game’s most enduring nicknames, “King Henrik,” for longtime Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist.
A New York native, Brooks was known by colleagues for his mentorship and high standards. When Post reporter Mollie Walker succeeded him on the Rangers beat, Brooks insisted she first read the NHL’s collective bargaining agreement “cover to cover” to truly understand the game.
Brooks is survived by his son, Jordan; daughter-in-law, Joanna; and two grandchildren. His wife, Janis, died in 2020.
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