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Ottawa Senators assistant Mark Reeds dies at 55

By Alexandra Huber

Jan 13, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Ottawa Senators assistant coach Mark Reeds watches team warmups before the game between the Dallas Stars and the Senators at the American Airlines Center. The Stars defeated the Senators 5-4. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 13, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Ottawa Senators assistant coach Mark Reeds watches team warmups before the game between the Dallas Stars and the Senators at the American Airlines Center. The Stars defeated the Senators 5-4. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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Ottawa Senators assistant coach Mark Reeds dies at age 55 after battle with cancer.

Mark Reeds, Ottawa Senators assistant coach, passed away after a year-long battle with cancer, the team announced on Tuesday. Reeds, who had been an assistant with the Senators since 2011, first revealed that he had cancer last year.

Senators owner Eugene Melnyk released the following statement:

"“It is with very heavy hears that all of us within the Senators family remember Mark who was truly a wonderful father, husband, player, coach and friend. Mark’s charismatic fighting spirit was present right until the end. We are all better for having had the opportunity to work so closely with Mark who passion for life, hockey and his family will leave an indelible mark on our organization. The entire Ottawa Senators organization sends its deepest condolences to the Reeds family.”"

Head Coach Dave Cameron also addressed the media on Tuesday.

Reeds was hospitalized with pneumonia over the weekend and passed away early Tuesday morning. He underwent surgery last summer but returned to the team before being forced to leave last month when the illness returned. Reeds is survived by his wife and two children.

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A former St. Louis Blue and Hartford Whaler, Reed played 365 games in eight seasons. He was drafted 86th overall by St. Louis in 1979. Prior to handing and NHL job, he coached in the minor leagues, leading the Owen Sound Attack of the OHL to a league championship.

Sadly, Reeds is not the only member of the Senator family to be impacted by the disease. General Manager Bryan Murray told TSN in November that his stage-four colon cancer is incurable. Murray has lived with cancer for seven to ten years, according to his doctors.

With heavy hearts, the Senators will begin its opening round playoff series against the Montreal Canadiens tomorrow at the Bell Centre.

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