Senators release some awful news on coach Bob Jones

The Ottawa Senators announced today that assistant coach Bob Jones, a member of D.J. Smith's coaching staff, has been diagnosed with ALS.

From the Senators' prepared statement on Jones' health:

OTTAWA - The Ottawa Senators issued a statement today regarding the health of assistant coach Bob Jones.

"A devoted member of our family, Bob Jones, has been diagnosed with ALS," said Senators general manager Pierre Dorion. "Bob and his family's wishes are to take the courageous step of making his condition public in an effort to drive ALS awareness as he fights this disease."

"We have been working internally with Bob and his family as he takes on this challenge; while Bob will continue with his coaching duties, he has the full support of the organization to take any time he needs away from the club during the season to concentrate on his health and his family."

"A devoted member of our family, Bob Jones, has been diagnosed with ALS," said Senators general manager Pierre Dorion. "Bob and his family's wishes are to take the courageous step of making his condition public in an effort to drive ALS awareness as he fights this disease."

"We have been working internally with Bob and his family as he takes on this challenge; while Bob will continue with his coaching duties, he has the full support of the organization to take any time he needs away from the club during the season to concentrate on his health and his family."

Thoughts and prayers obviously go out to Jones and his family at this difficult time.

While Jones is going to fight the disease and attempt to continue his career, anyone who has experienced ALS first-hand or second-hand can tell you that he's in for the fight of his life. ALS is a debilitating disease that can leave many patients feeling like a shell of their former selves. We were all just witness to how quickly ALS was able to take Toronto Maple Leafs legend Borje Salming away from us and how difficult life became for him and his family as the disease took ahold of Salming's body. It's a debilitating disease that has no known cure.