Senators confirm former assistant coach Bob Jones has passed.

Some truly heartbreaking news coming out of Ottawa this morning.

According to an official announcement from the Senators organization, former Senators assistant head coach Bob Jones has died at the very young age of just 54 years old. The Senators released the following statement:

We are saddened to learn of the passing of former Assistant Coach Bob Jones after his battle with ALS.

Our condolences to his wife Paige, children Blake and Brianna as well as all those he influenced across his nearly 30 year coaching career.

Jones was unfortunately afflicted with the terrible disease known commonly as Lou Gehrig's disease which is actually amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). There is still no known cure for ALS and that meant that Jones' diagnosis was a fatal one.

The players in the Senators locker room were aware of the difficult time that Jones was going through and showed great class back in January of last year when they paid tribute to him during their post-game celebrations, acknowledging the battle that he was going through at the time.

Jones lived and breathed hockey, having been drafted by the Detroit Red Wings in the 9th round (179th overall) of the 1989 National Hockey League Entry Draft. Although he would never play in an NHL game, he would transition from being a player in the Ontario Hockey League with the Soo Greyhounds to becoming an assistant coach for that franchise just 5 years later. Jones would have an extensive career as a coach in the OHL, capturing a pair of championships as an associate coach for the Windsor Spitfires in 2009 and 2010.

Jones continued to work in the sport he loved until the very end.

I am terribly saddened to report that, despite a valiant fight, Jones has lost his battle with a terrible disease that has already claimed far too many lives in the hockey community and around the world.

I would like to extend my most sincere condolences to the Jones family, his friends, and anyone whose life he touched in a positive way over his extensive career as both a player and coach.