NCAA assistant coach passes away after long battle with cancer

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Julien Trekker
October 5, 2024 (12:26)

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The NCAA assistant coach Chad Demers tragically passed away after a long battle with cancer.

Yet another tragedy is shaking the hockey community as Augustana assistant coach Chad Demers lost his six-year battle against brain cancer at only 33 years old.

Demers, married and father to three kids, also played with the Air Force Academy in the AHA, as well as the USHL between 2008 and 2015.

The Augustana University head coach Garrett Raboin released a statement about the tragedy.

Here's what he said:

"Chad was so much more than a coach for us. He was a brother, a husband, a father. Those are the things that were most important to him. He just cherished his wife and kids. That's what makes this so hard."

Pierre-Paul Lamoureux, his former colleague, also had good words for his friend:

"I am really going to miss him. You don't have many friends in life as loyal and trustworthy as Chad. He had courage when it came to coaching. Our staff spent so many long days and nights together. We knew what he was going through, but he never complained or felt sorry for himself.

Chad is a great example of how to deal with adversity and tough times. He truly loved to coach for the right reasons. He cared about the team and especially the players. He was a great young coach with so much promise. More so, he's an unbelievable father and husband - a true leader of men and a mentor."

We extend our condolences to Demers' family and friends.