The Calgary Flames have honored their long-time assistant general manager, Chris Snow, with an emotional tribute ahead of Friday night’s loss to the Edmonton Oilers, following the hockey executive’s ‘catastrophic brain injury’ earlier this week.
Reports of Snow being hooked onto life support emerged on Wednesday after his wife, Kelsie, shared an update on his health on social media. Organ donation is now being arranged.
Snow was diagnosed four years ago with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, better known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. He went into cardiac arrest on Tuesday after suffering a life-threatening brain injury due to a lack of oxygen.
‘Tests yesterday confirmed that Chris will not wake up,’ Kelsie posted on social media on Thursday. ‘In life, Chris offered his body to a clinical trial to help others. In death he will do the same. He remains on life support while organ donation is arranged. We are so proud of him.’
On Friday, before face-off at Scotiabank Saddledome, the Flames showed a three-minute tribute video on the arena’s jumbotron that started off with a snap of Snow and the hashtag #Snowystrong before diving into his life and career with the NHL franchise.
The Calgary Flames paid tribute to long-time assistant GM Chris Snow ahead of Friday’s game
Snow went into cardiac arrest after sustaining a brain injury due to a lack of oxygen this week
A former sportswriter, Snow transitioned to the NHL years ago and was active in ALS research
‘The Calgary Flames and the entire hockey community are devastated that one of our own, Chris Snow, has been placed on life support with no hope of waking following his battle with ALS,’ said the video’s narrator.
The video also stated that Snow, now 42, fought his battle with ALS with ‘grace and courage’ despite only being given a year to live at the time of his diagnosis in 2019.
After the clip ended, the Flames held a moment of applause instead of a minute of silence to honor Snow’s life and legacy. Calgary and Edmonton fans then teamed up to give the hockey executive a loud ovation while players tapped their sticks on the ice.
In an article earlier this year about Snow, Boston.com reported that his father, two of his uncles and a cousin all died of ALS, with a specific mutation running through the family.
Snow, now 42, was given a year to live when he was diagnosed with ALS, five years ago, in 2019
Flames players tapped the ice with their sticks as a sign of applause for Snow before face-off
Fans applauded Snow for an entire minute, instead of honoring him with a minute of silence
He continued to work for the Flames this year, despite increasing challenges with his health and time spent in the hospital.
A former sportswriter, Snow transitioned to the NHL years ago. He was the director of hockey operations for the Minnesota Wild from 2006-10, then joined the Flames as director of hockey analysis in 2011.
He was promoted to assistant general manager in September 2019.
Kelsie, who shares two children with Chris, ended her post Wednesday on a personal and emotional note.
‘My chest feels cracked open and hollowed out,’ she wrote.
‘Chris is the most beautiful, brilliant person I’ll ever know and doing life without him feels untenable. Hug your people.’
Content source – www.soundhealthandlastingwealth.com
