Well-known NHL assistant coach Wayne Fleming died Monday in Calgary, Alberta after battling with brain cancer.
"Hockey Canada has lost a great friend, and the hockey world has lost not only a tremendous coach, but a wonderful man," said Bob Nicholson, president and CEO of Hockey Canada. "We send our condolences to Wayne's wife, Carolyn, their four children and the rest of the Fleming family."
Fleming, 62, was an assistant coach in the NHL for 14 seasons with teams that include the New York Islanders, Phoenix Coyotes, Philadelphia Flyers, Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers and Tampa Bay Lightning.
"Thoughts and prayers go out to the entire Fleming family," Lightning star Steven Stamkos tweeted. "Wayne was a great coach and even better man."
Fleming also made his way to the Olympics where he was a part of three coaching staffs for Canada, winning a silver medal in Albertville in 1992 and a gold medal in Salt Lake City in 2002.
"Wayne was the perfect assistant coach for...well, it didn't matter what head coach," said Flyers winger Simon Gagne, who played under Fleming from 2002-06.
Ken Hitchcock, currently the head coach of the St. Louis Blues, was Philadelphia's head coach at the time.
"If Hitch was the rough edge, Flemmer was the sandpaper, sometimes, trying to smooth it out," former Flyer Chris Therien told the South Jersey Courier-Post. "There's no question about that."
Related Articles:
Hollywood Stars Ryan Gosling And Charlize Theron Rumored To Play Oscar Pistorius And Reeva Steenkamp In Upcoming Movie
Famous Detroit Tigers Ex-Pitcher Virgil Truck Dies At 95
