Headlines

  • Toronto Maple Leafs Acquire Henry Thrun
  • Avalanche Sign Josh Manson To Two-Year Extension
  • Stars Trade Matt Dumba To Penguins
  • Panthers Sign Mackie Samoskevich To One-Year Deal
  • Golden Knights Beginning To Work Out Jack Eichel Extension
  • Lightning Acquire Sam O’Reilly From Oilers For Isaac Howard
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • MLB Trade Rumors
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors

Pro Hockey Rumors

  • Home
  • Teams
    • Atlantic
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Central
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Dallas Stars
      • Minnesota Wild
      • Nashville Predators
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Utah Mammoth
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • Metropolitan
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Pacific
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Partners
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
Go To MLB Trade Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Travis Roy Passes Away At 45

October 29, 2020 at 5:45 pm CDT | by Zach Leach 11 Comments

The hockey world has lost one of its most inspiring icons today, as Travis Roy has passed away at the age of 45. It was 25 years ago this month that Roy, then a freshman at Boston University, was paralyzed 11 seconds into his first shift of the first game of his collegiate career. Rather than let this tragedy define him, Roy spent his life raising money to help fellow quadriplegics and other victims of spinal cord injuries and to support research that will help countless more in the future. Roy sadly struggled with complications related to his injury over the years and recently underwent surgery in September. An issue related to that procedure required emergency surgery on Tuesday and led to his death this afternoon.

Roy, a native of Maine, played prep school hockey at nearby North Yarmouth Academy and then at Tabor Academy in Massachusetts before enrolling at Boston University in 1995. He was a member of a roster that included future NHLers Chris Drury, Jay Pandolfo, Shawn Bates, and Mike Grier, as well as an NHL head coach John Hynes and current Terriers head coach Albie O’Connell. However, Roy had very little chance to play with this talented team. On October 20, 1995, Roy made his BU debut against the University of North Dakota; it lasted just 11 seconds. Roy fell awkwardly against the boards while delivering a check, breaking his fourth and fifth vertebra. The injury left him almost completely paralyzed from the neck down for the remainder of his life.

While Roy’s pro hockey dreams were dashed, he showed inspiring strength and resiliency by making it his life’s work to help those with similar injuries. The Travis Roy Foundation, created in 1997, has raised millions of dollars to fund research and to assist those struggling with spinal cord injuries. Roy himself was always on the front lines, serving as an inspiration to all those in need of light during their dark times.

An amazing ambassador for the sport of hockey, Roy has been honored for his charitable work by numerous organizations. In 1999, his number was retired by Boston University and is joined by only one other man, his former coach Jack Parker. In 2015, his hometown NHL team, the Boston Bruins, signed him to a one-day contract, bringing the former promising young hockey player closer to his life’s goal than he possibly could have imagined following his life-altering accident. Bruins President Cam Neely has released a statement on all that Roy has meant to so many, both in the New England hockey community and to spinal cord injury victims worldwide. All of these accolades for Roy pale in comparison to what he has provided to so many others and for the hockey community as a whole as a true beacon of hope and perseverance.

For more information on the inspiring journey of Travis Roy, please consider reading his obituary by Boston University or his autobiography, Eleven Seconds. You can donate to the Travis Roy Foundation here.

Everyone at PHR wishes the best to the family and friends of Roy and all who he touched during his life.

Share 0 Retweet 0 Send via email

RIP

Minor Transactions: 10/29/20
Main
Tampa Bay Re-Signs Pat Maroon, Luke Schenn
View Comments (11)

Comments

  1. rdiddy75

    5 years ago

    Such a tragedy!!! Rest In Peace Travis.

    1
    Reply
  2. metsie1

    5 years ago

    Very sad to hear of his passing. He lead a very inspirational life after his injury. The injury itself was a terrible tragedy. RIP, Travis.

    2
    Reply
  3. MoneyBallJustWorks

    5 years ago

    RIP.

    1
    Reply
  4. MacJablonski--NotVegasLegend

    5 years ago

    My deepest condolences to Travis’ family, friends and the BU hockey fraternity. I was thinking about Travis last night, for reasons unknown (then), and thinking of his inspiration to Boston and that of Joey Moss to Edmonton. Rest in Peace, Travis, both you and Joey will be greatly missed.

    1
    Reply
  5. paddyo furnichuh

    5 years ago

    The addies pain of people living with spinal cord injuries is that they have a much shorter life expectancy due to the many complications that arise from SCIs. It is one of the most life-altering disabilities humans may encounter.

    It’s very sad, but seeing how brave and strong people can be is quite moving. If there is an afterlife, it will be much easier for him now.

    1
    Reply
    • paddyo furnichuh

      5 years ago

      Added* pain

      Reply
  6. DarkSide830

    5 years ago

    what a story. RIP.

    1
    Reply
  7. padam

    5 years ago

    RIP.

    1
    Reply
  8. riverrat55

    5 years ago

    My sincere condolences to the family and friends, teammates upon losing a family member in Travis Roy’s passing. Rest in Peace Travis.

    Reply
  9. dave frost nhlpa

    5 years ago

    Travis,Joey Moss,and Wes Tuttle in the last two months. Three legends.
    Rest easy.

    Reply
  10. shawn baber

    5 years ago

    Prays to his loved ones

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.

Log in Register

    Top Stories

    Toronto Maple Leafs Acquire Henry Thrun

    Avalanche Sign Josh Manson To Two-Year Extension

    Stars Trade Matt Dumba To Penguins

    Panthers Sign Mackie Samoskevich To One-Year Deal

    Golden Knights Beginning To Work Out Jack Eichel Extension

    Lightning Acquire Sam O’Reilly From Oilers For Isaac Howard

    NHL, NHLPA Ratify Four-Year CBA Extension

    Gavin McKenna To Commit To Penn State

    Tyler Johnson Announces Retirement

    Flyers Re-Sign Cam York To Five-Year Contract

    Recent

    Toronto Maple Leafs Acquire Henry Thrun

    Evening Notes: AHL/CHL Agreement, NHL Draft, Signing Rights

    Snapshots: Sorokin, Blue Jackets, Hunter, Lord

    Canucks Sign Aleksei Medvedev To Entry-Level Contract

    Avalanche Sign Josh Manson To Two-Year Extension

    Sharks Sign Jakub Skarek To One-Year Contract

    Stars Trade Matt Dumba To Penguins

    Dylan Ferguson Signs With HK Nitra

    Tennessee State To Add Division I NCAA Hockey For 2026-27 Season

    Kraken Announce Player Development Staff Changes

    Rumors By Team

    Rumors By Team

    • Avalanche Rumors
    • Blackhawks Rumors
    • Blue Jackets Rumors
    • Blues Rumors
    • Bruins Rumors
    • Canadiens Rumors
    • Canucks Rumors
    • Capitals Rumors
    • Devils Rumors
    • Ducks Rumors
    • Flames Rumors
    • Flyers Rumors
    • Golden Knights Rumors
    • Hurricanes Rumors
    • Islanders Rumors
    • Jets Rumors
    • Kings Rumors
    • Kraken Rumors
    • Lightning Rumors
    • Mammoth Rumors
    • Maple Leafs Rumors
    • Oilers Rumors
    • Panthers Rumors
    • Penguins Rumors
    • Predators Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Red Wings Rumors
    • Sabres Rumors
    • Senators Rumors
    • Sharks Rumors
    • Stars Rumors
    • Wild Rumors

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • 2025’s Top 50 Unrestricted Free Agents
    • Sam Bennett Rumors
    • Nikolaj Ehlers Rumors
    • Mitch Marner Rumors
    • Marco Rossi Rumors

    Pro Hockey Rumors Features

    Pro Hockey Rumors Features

    • Support Pro Hockey Rumors And Go Ad-Free
    • 2025 Free Agent Focus Series
    • 2025 Offseason Checklist Series
    • 2025 NHL Free Agent List
    • 2026 NHL Free Agent List
    • Active Roster Tracker
    • Coaching Staff Directory
    • Draft Pick Tracker 2025
    • Key Offseason Dates
    • Offseason Trade Tracker
    • Pro Hockey Rumors On X
    • Pro Hockey Rumors Polls
    • Waiver Claims 2024-25

     

     

     

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives

    PHR Info

    • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Commenting Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    Pro Hockey Rumors is not affiliated with National Hockey League, NHL or NHL.com

    Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information

    scroll to top

    Register

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version