Winnipeg Jets HC Rick Bowness Takes Leave of Absence After Wife's Seizure

The Winnipeg Jets announced Monday that head coach Rick Bowness is taking a leave of absence from the team after his wife, Judy, had a seizure Sunday evening, per ESPN's Kristen Shilton.

The Jets said in their statement that Judy remained hospitalized while undergoing further tests. Assistant Scott Arniel will serve as interim head coach in Bowness' absence.

Winnipeg also asked for "everyone to respect the family's privacy at this time."

Bowness is in the midst of his second season as Jets head coach after he was hired in July 2022 to replace then-interim coach Dave Lowry. The 68-year-old led Winnipeg to a 46-33-3 record in his first year behind the bench and the team lost to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights in the first round of the playoffs.

Arniel skated in 730 NHL games across 11 seasons, including over four seasons with the Jets. He was a member of the team during the 1984-85 campaign when Bowness was serving as an assistant.

Arniel became head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2010 and held that position until he was fired midway through the 2011-12 season. He had a head coaching record of 45-60-18 during his brief time behind the bench.

The 61-year-old also held assistant roles with the Buffalo Sabres, New York Rangers and Washington Capitals before joining the Jets as a part of Bowness' staff in 2022.

The Jets are off to a 2-3-0 start this season. They will return to action on Tuesday against the St. Louis Blues (2-1-1).