Former Bruins reporter passed away at 65 years old
Mike Loftus has covered the Boston Bruins for 31 years and has only missed a game or practice due to his son, graduating from college.
Loftus wrote for the Patriot Ledger and did so, as a consummate professional, loved by his peers.
The Bruins were spoiled with his passionate coverage of the team, who had inherited his love of his hockey from his mother. However, news was reported Sunday that drew heartbreak across Boston.
It was reported that Loftus at age 65 had passed away after battling cancer.
He left behind many family and friends who will mourn his passing, including his wife, kids, and reporter friends whom he shared many nights with at the TD Garden.
As the son of a Zamboni-driving dad, he spent his years, writing hockey, coaching it, or officiating the game. He joked about his own play, as a "puck-losing defenseman".
Loftus had in the 1980s covered the New England Patriots for two years before the opportunity to cover the Bruins arose. It was around the same time in 1988-1989 that Bruins Don Sweeney was summoned to the NHL to shore up the defense which Loftus would cover with pride.
Through the 1980s-1990s through the Borque-Neely era fans were spoiled with two Stanley Cup finals appearances and two Eastern Conference finals appearances. Which Loftus would approach the 1995-2008 time period with consistent commitment even while the Bruins would only win one playoff series.
He suffered through such heartbreaking revelations when the Patriot Ledger cut his travel budget, in 1998 a month before the playoffs, unable to follow the Boston Herald and Boston Globe on the road.
He would still go to bat for his teammates at the ledger, all the while as a union representative, in collective-bargaining negotiations. Loftus would continue to absorb all things hockey at the Ledger and would maintain his due diligence as chapter president of the PHWA. He would unfortunately retire in 2020, but not by choice due to business circumstances and the pandemic would end his coverage of the Bruins.
Gatehouse papers would end coverage promptly.
If you miss Mike Loftus' style, follow the Globe's Kevin DuPont and the Herald's Steve Conroy.
We send our condolences to the Loftus family and friends.
