Brandon Montour Says Brother Died of ALS, Addresses Return to Kraken After Leave

Seattle Kraken defenseman Brandon Montour has returned to his team after taking a temporary leave of absence to mourn the loss of his older brother, he told reporters Saturday.

Cameron Noble-Montour, 34, died Monday following a multi-year battle with ALS.

"Very proud, very happy to be his brother," Montour said during an emotional media availability Saturday. "Somebody that I've looked up to since, obviously, Day 1. A great son, brother, best friend, father. He's got two baby girls.

"He battled hard. You've got to put everything into perspective, with the highs that I've had in the last couple of years with winning and hockey, and having babies and creating my own family. He was at home battling. Right 'til Monday, when it happened. He was smiling, and he was ready."

Montour continued, "To have everyone together for the week was good. Being back in Seattle, and seeing my kids, and being a part of this again, keep my mind off other things, which will be good.

"But miss him. Again, he's probably smiling, and chirping me up there for crying. But love him, and it was a tough week."

Montour added that he had been watching the Kraken "from afar" during his absence from the team.

Kraken head coach Lane Lambert meanwhile said Saturday that it was important for the team to have Montour back "not only as a player, but certainly as a leader."

"The support has been with him, and we're going to have to continue to support him through this time," Lambert said, per NHL.com's Darren Brown.

Montour is heading into his second season in Seattle. He originally signed with the Kraken in 2024 after winning the Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers.

The defenseman, who had four assists in his first four games this season, was a late scratch ahead of the Kraken's Oct. 18 matchup with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The team announced at the time he was leaving "to attend to a family matter."

Cale Fleury, who also filled in for Montour while the defenseman was recovering from ankle surgery during the preseason, stepped into the Kraken's lineup as Montour missed the last four games.

Montour is now set to return on a pairing alongside Ryan Lindgren when the Kraken take on the visiting Edmonton Oilers on Saturday night at 10 p.m. ET.