Travis Roy passes away at the age of 45

Some sad news on this Thursday evening: Travis Roy, who turned a devastating hockey injury into a lifetime of inspiration and philanthropy, passed away today at the age of 45.

Per the Boston Globe, Roy passed away due to complications from his paralysis.

In a statement, Bruins president Cam Neely said:

Travis Roy was the ultimate symbol of determination and courage. The impact that Travis had on the New England hockey community is immeasurable, and his relentless advocacy for spinal cord research was inspiring. The Bruins offer sincere condolences to the Roy family, the Travis Roy Foundation, Boston University, and all of those who knew and loved Travis Roy.

Roy’s story is familiar to pretty much anyone who grew up a hockey fan (or really, a sports fan) in New England: he was just 11 seconds into the first shift of his college hockey career at Boston University when he was paralyzed after a head-first collision into the boards.

Determined not to let his injury define him, Roy poured his energy into living life as best as he could and into raising money for spinal cord injury research through the Travis Roy Foundation.

Over the years, that foundation has raised millions of dollars and, in turn, issued millions of dollars in research grants.

Sadly, the 25th anniversary of Roy’s injury was just over a week ago.

Back in 2015, the Bruins signed Roy to a one-day contract, a way of honoring his commitment to philanthropy and his generous spirit.

Roy lived quite a life in the aftermath of a tragic injury, and he leaves behind a legacy of kindness and compassion.

Condolences to his family and loved ones.