Montour’s Emotional Return to Kraken: A Battle On and Off the Ice After Brother’s Tragic ALS Battle

Brandon Montour’s return to the ice for the Seattle Kraken this past Saturday wasn’t just a lineup update — it was a deeply personal moment that mirrored both resilience and raw emotion. After taking some necessary time off to cope with the loss of his older brother, Cameron Noble-Montour, Brandon stepped back onto the rink in a tightly contested 3-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers. Cameron, just 34 years old, passed away after a valiant fight against ALS, leaving behind a family that deeply feels the void. Montour’s words before the game struck a chord, offering a glimpse into a brother’s love amidst hardship — a narrative of strength, pride, and a perspective reshaped by loss. As he logged nearly 24 minutes on the ice, delivering a standout performance, the support from teammates and coaches underscored a collective spirit not just built on hockey, but on genuine human connection. It’s clear this chapter is as much about the grind of professional sports as it is about healing, camaraderie, and moving forward. LEARN MORE.

SEATTLE — Brandon Montour returned to the lineup for the Seattle Kraken in their 3-2 win against the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday from a personal leave of absence following the death of his older brother, Cameron Noble-Montour.

Cameron, who is survived by his wife, two daughters, and a stepdaughter, died Monday after a battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a disease affecting the nervous system more commonly known as ALS. He was 34 years old.

“So, my older brother’s been dealing with ALS for three, four years now, and it was a rough week,” Montour said before the game on Saturday. “I’m very proud and very happy to be his brother. He’s somebody that I’ve looked up to since, obviously, Day 1. [He was] a great son, brother, best friend, father. He’s got two baby girls.

“He battled hard. It puts everything in perspective with the highs that I’ve had in the last couple years, with winning (the Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers in 2024) and hockey and having babies and creating my own family. [All that time], he was at home battling. Right until Monday when it happened, he was smiling, and he was ready.”

Montour played 23:39 in his return, and was plus-1 with a team-high three shots on goal.

“He’s a brother,” said Seattle captain Jordan Eberle, who scored twice in the win. “I mean, anytime someone goes through something like that, it’s extremely hard. Just for him to be out here tonight and battling with us, it just shows his compassion and the level that he has… You just try to be there as much as you can for him.”

The Kraken announced on Oct. 18 that Montour would be away from the team on a temporary leave of absence because of a family matter. They played four games without the 31-year-old defenseman, going 2-2-0, including a 3-0 win at the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday. Montour had missed most of training camp after having a bursa removed from his ankle.

“I’ve only practiced once or twice a year and missed a lot, so I’ll try to get back into it as quick as I can,” Montour said. “I’ve been watching from afar and [been] happy with how the guys are playing.”

Montour, who has four assists in five games this season, skated on a defense pair with Ryan Lindgren against the Oilers.

“Clearly, our hearts have been with [Brandon],” Kraken coach Lane Lambert said. “The support has been with him, and we’re going to have to continue to support him through this time. I think it’s important… obviously, it’s important to have him back, not only as a player, but certainly as a leader. And it’s important for him to get back into the groove of the game and maybe take his mind off of a little bit of the outside part of it. But certainly, we feel for him, and we’ve supported, and we’ll continue to support.”

Montour, who is in his second season with Seattle after signing a seven-year contract on July 1, 2024, said the love from his teammates has helped him grieve the loss of Cameron.

“Everyone’s reached out, which has been unbelievable,” Montour said. “For the other guys, you don’t really know what to say. It’s one of those things where, obviously, you know how the people [grieving] are feeling. But the guys have been great. It’s a good group with realizing that there’s things outside of the game that are important. I needed time, I still need time. This is going to be a long process, but I’m happy to be back.”