The Flames remember Chris Snow for his determination to battle ALS and tireless efforts to make them a better team
“We only get one life and we have to live it, and live it to the fullest. And that’s what he did.” — Craig Conroy regarding Chris Snow.
Conroy and the whole Calgary Flames organization will remember Snow for a multitude of reasons beyond his role as head of data/analytics.
Snow, who died on Saturday at age 42 from complications related to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, leaves a legacy tied to his valiant four-plus-year battle.
“We were hoping it was going to be for 25 years,” Conroy, the club’s general manager told reporters on Sunday.
Snow, who was initially given one year to live when diagnosed in June of 2019, was an inspiration for the Flames organization.
Instead of keeping private his battle with ALS, Snow and his wife, Kelsie, shared through podcasts, blogs and social media all the highs and lows and the impact on their family, including children Cohen and Willa.
Not only did they create more awareness of ALS, which has taken Chris’ father, two uncles and a cousin, but also raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for research.
They also allowed the world to see the person who was a huge part of the Flames organization, albeit behind the scenes. Despite the toll the disease took on him, Snow was steadfast in always wanting to be at work, delving through data for the management team, coaches and players as well as aiding in contract negotiations.
“We’re really gonna miss him here,” captain Mikael Backlund said. “I’ll always remember his big smile. He was always such a happy, easy-going person. Also, of course, I’ll always remember his fight, how he took on (ALS), the whole family. They’re all warriors.”
“He’s a true hero,” added forward Dillon Dube. “He wasn’t having good days, but he came and tried to make every day a really good day.”
Snow, a sportswriter who covered both the Boston Red Sox and the Minnesota Wild for newspapers, was hired by the wild as director of hockey operations in 2006.
He joined the Flames in 2011 as director of hockey analysis and was promoted to assistant GM in 2019.
“You try to think about all the good things, and what he’s done for the organization is pretty special,” Conroy said.
“He was a special, special person.”
