Calgary Flames assistant general manager Chris Snow has died at age 42 after a lengthy public battle with Lou Gehrig's disease.
The Flames confirmed his death Saturday night.
In a statement, the Flames said, 鈥淲e, along with the entire hockey community, are mourning the passing of Chris Snow. Even while battling ALS, Chris dedicated his life to helping others and he changed the lives of so many.鈥�
Kelsie Snow her husband went into cardiac arrest Tuesday caused by a catastrophic brain injury from a lack of oxygen, which doctors did not expect him to wake up from.
On Thursday, Kelsie Snow said tests confirmed her husband would not wake up, adding he remained on life support while organ donation was arranged because he offered his body to a clinical trial.
鈥淲e are so proud of him,鈥�
Flames GM Craig Conroy said Snow never complained or showed he had a bad day, continuing to perform his job at a high standard.
鈥淭hrough his journey, Chris became a true inspiration for all who knew him and an incredible advocate for everyone affected by ALS,鈥� Conroy said. 鈥淲e will never replace a person like Chris. We simply pay tribute to him by moving forward with the same passion that he brought to his life each day.鈥�
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman called Snow a 鈥渞emarkable man whose courageous and relentless battle with ALS has been an inspiration to so many.鈥�
"An innovative student of our game with an expertise in data analysis, Chris supervised the creation and build out of the Flames鈥� analytics department and was influential in all facets of the Club鈥檚 Hockey Operations decision-making,鈥� Bettman said. 鈥淔irst and foremost, however, he was a beloved husband to Kelsie, a devoted dad to Cohen and Willa, and a friend to everyone in hockey fortunate enough to have met him. The Snows鈥� willingness to share the trials and triumphs of Chris鈥檚 lengthy ALS journey has inspired so many and profoundly increased awareness of the need to find a cure for this debilitating disease.鈥�
Toronto GM Brad Treliving, who worked with Snow in Calgary, said he was devastated by the news about his friend and colleague.
鈥溾�楽nowy鈥� was a true example of strength, courage, grit and compassion,鈥� Treliving said. 鈥淗e was a cherished friend who deeply impacted our lives. 鈥� Chris inspired us all as he faced his relentless battle with ALS head on, refusing to let it define him or derail his spirit.鈥�
The Snow family became a source of hope inspiration within the hockey community since Chris was diagnosed in June 2019 with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, ALS: a progressive disease that attacks nerve cells that control muscles throughout the body.
鈥淲e cannot convey the impact Chris has on our organization, not only in his work but the leadership and positivity he brings,鈥� the Flames said in a statement Wednesday. 鈥淒espite his own challenges, he is a beacon of light, uplifting all of us around him.鈥�
Snow was a baseball writer prior to being hired by the NHL鈥檚 Minnesota Wild in 2006 as director hockey operations and spending four seasons in that role. He joined the Flames front office as an analyst in 2010, working as director of statistical and video analysis for eight years and director of hockey analysis for one being promoted to assistant GM in 2020.
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AP NHL:
Stephen Whyno, The Associated Press
