There are numerous methods to examine the brave life and times of Chris Snow, but let’s start with a personal reflection because it was difficult not to think about Chris regularly once he and his wife, Kelsie, publicly announced his ALS diagnosis in December 2019. Through her blog, her Twitter posts, and her podcast, Kelsie (and occasionally Chris himself) detailed the harsh, invasive, and challenging treatment that kept him alive and fighting against a disease that they both knew would ultimately be fatal. As you read and listened to their story, it was impossible not to imagine what a difficult day must look like for Chris Snow. The recent tests confirmed that Chris will not wake up. In life, Chris selflessly offered his body to a clinical trial to help others, and even in death, he will continue to do the same through organ donation. We are incredibly proud of him.
Even on a good day, Chris Snow, a long-time Calgary Flames front-office employee and assistant general manager since 2020, faced numerous challenges. However, his tireless determination in overcoming these challenges has been truly inspiring to everyone who followed his fight against a disease that gradually weakened his body but never his spirit. The word “courage” is often used lightly these days, but what Chris has done and the fight he has shown is genuinely courageous.
One thing that provided a glimmer of hope more than four years after his initial diagnosis was Chris Snow’s incredible visibility over the past six months. This was partly due to the Flames making significant news, such as dismissing and hiring coaches and general managers. Chris attended every news conference to signal these changes. In June, he even traveled with the Flames’ front-office staff to Nashville for the NHL Draft, despite his health being uneven. He wanted to work and be involved. He handled contracts for both the old regime and the new regime.
By the way, Craig Conroy, the Flames’ general manager, and his wife, Jessie, played enormous roles in supporting the Snow family over the past few years. Professionally, Craig and Chris were assistant general managers together, but their connection went beyond work. The Conroys were always there for the Snow family, offering help with their children when needed. When Conroy was promoted to the general manager’s role, Chris was also promoted and given more responsibilities.
Between Chris’ ALS diagnosis and the decision to make it public, I distinctly remember a chain of events that began during NHL training camps in 2019. Driving home from Edmonton to Calgary, I listened to a radio interview with Chris where he discussed his new areas of responsibility. It was evident that he had great potential in NHL managerial circles. When I ran into him a month later in Regina at the NHL outdoor game, I mentioned how well he came across in the interview and how he could become more visible to increase his chances of becoming an NHL GM. Little did I know about his illness, and I felt somewhat embarrassed when I found out later.
In early December 2019, he and Kelsie appeared on “Hockey Night in Canada” to discuss his diagnosis. Despite their circumstances, they chose to use their platform to raise awareness and support ALS research. They launched the #Snowystrong campaign and later the #Weaksidestrong initiative on Twitter. Through Kelsie’s blog and podcast, they shared their day-to-day challenges and how they coped with them, creating both heartbreaking and uplifting moments. They found ways to incorporate normalcy into their lives, even as the disease took its toll on Chris.
If you wanted, you could follow along on Kelsie’s blog, and it was often tear-inducing. Last October, her podcast began by…