The sick dog is a 10-year-old pit bull, Emma, who belongs to his son, Nick, who is a U.S. Army Ranger stationed abroad. Tortorella's affinity for animals -- especially pit bulls -- is well known.

When John Tortorella's Tampa Bay Lightning won the Stanley Cup in 2004, John and his son, Dominick (Nick for short), took the Cup all over town when Nick was a sophomore in high school.

In a phone conversation this week, Tortorella’s father said he took pride in John, as well as his two older sons, Bill and Robert, a younger son, Jim, and a daughter Carol, being athletic and ...

For Tortorella, who has a son who has served in the military for more than a decade, any chance to represent the red, white, and blue is special. “It’s an honor,” Tortorella said.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella has dropped his hard-line stance against those who would protest during the playing of the U.S. national anthem. He also has a suggestion for ...

Columbus Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella said he missed Thursday's 4-3 loss in Nashville in order to take care of his deployed son's sick dog.. The pet's ailing health also is forcing ...

Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella clarified his leave of absence from Thursday's game and All-Star Weekend, revealing he needs to take care of his deployed son's sick dog.