Former Senators assistant Bob Jones dies after battle with ALS

Former Ottawa Senators assistant coach Bob Jones died after a battle with ALS, the team announced Friday. He was 54 years old.

Jones was diagnosed with the neurodegenerative disease in December 2022 during his fourth season in Ottawa, but he continued to work with the team into the 2023-24 campaign.

"The entire Senators organization is thinking of Bob's loved ones and sending our sincere condolences to his family," Senators owner Michael Andlauer said in a statement. "For both our current players and for the members of our staff who had the privilege of working with Bob, his loss brings considerable sorrow.

"Bob will be fondly remembered for having a true joy for life and for his determined commitment to routinely help better individual players and all hockey organizations for which he worked."

His stint in Ottawa was his first in the NHL. Jones spent more than 20 seasons in the OHL and helped the Windsor Spitfires win the Memorial Cup as an associate coach in back-to-back years (2009, 2010).

The Senators hired the Sault Ste. Marie native in July 2019 after he spent the previous season as an assistant coach for the AHL's Texas Stars.

On top of his coaching duties, Jones focused on raising awareness for ALS after his diagnosis. A fundraiser, "All in 4 ALS," was held last August in his honor.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis gradually paralyzes the individual as the brain becomes unable to communicate with the body's muscles.

Hall of Fame defenseman Borje Salming passed away from the illness in November 2022, while Calgary Flames assistant general manager Chris Snow died from the disease in September 2023.