Hockey player sadly passes away at the very young age of 33

Chad Demers is no longer with us today, as it was reported he has tragically died after a very long six-year battle with the horrible disease of cancer.

The men's college hockey season opens Friday night to anticipation and excitement, but the opening for those in Colorado Springs is a much more somber tone. The Air Force Falcons, as they prepare to take on Arizona State at Cadet Ice Arena, will be in mourning over the death of Chad Demers, an Air Force Academy hockey alum, who died Thursday at 33 following an extended bout with cancer.

Chad Demers was a star at the Air Force Academy from 2011-2015. After a successful collegiate hockey career, Demers went on to serve in the Air Force. Demers had his service time cut short in 2018 when he was medically discharged after being diagnosed with brain cancer. Though stricken with illness, Demers moved into coaching rapidly, sharing his love of hockey in various capacities.

After his diagnosis, Demers returned to his roots with the Fargo Force, the USHL club he once captained, serving first as its Director of Hockey Operations and then returning as Associate Head Coach during the 2022-23 season. His coaching route also brought him back to the Air Force Academy and more recently to Augustana, where he was an assistant coach during their inaugural hockey season.

Although his coaching career was going great, Demers took a turn for the worse last year, which served to keep him from going back behind the bench for the new season. His positive spirit and enduring smile became a hallmark of his time both on and off the ice, making him a favorite among players, fans, and fellow coaches alike. The Fargo Force held a benefit called "Rally for Demmy," at which upwards of $66,000 was raised for his family, in support, a shining example of the bonds he had made throughout his career.

Chad is survived by his wife Danika, his three young children, his parents, two brothers, and their families. He will be remembered long into the future as an energetic player and coach, but more importantly as a devoted husband and father, within the hockey fraternity.

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