David “DK” Kelly is being remembered as an inspirational fixture in the Saint John community.
The former head equipment manager for the Saint John Sea Dogs passed away from cancer on Wednesday at the age of 40.
Trevor Georgie, president and general manager of the Sea Dogs, speaks fondly about Kelly’s time with the team.
“Over those 13 years, that’s a lot of graduating classes of players, that’s a lot of different lives that he touched throughout that time,” Georgie said.
“His legacy is impressive and speaks for itself.”
Kelly began his career with the Sea Dogs in 2005 as their first head equipment manager. He moved to the team’s front office as senior advisor to hockey operations in late 2017 before retiring a few months later.
He worked a total of 805 regular season games with the Sea Dogs and won three President Cups and the Memorial Cup.
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But Georgie said it is the legacy Kelly left outside of the hockey club which is the most impressive to him.
“I spoke to someone who’s involved with our game day and he reflected on how DK inspired him to beat cancer himself,” he said.
“When someone is inspiring others and actually, directly and indirectly, saving lives, I think that’s even more impressive than the banners and the championships.”
After being diagnosed with cancer in 2014, Kelly made it his mission to take the disease head-on and inspire others worldwide.
He was known across the sports world for his #TeamDK movement and led the Monkey Band-Aid Apparel program to raise money for the Oncology Centre at the Saint John Regional Hospital.
Everytime I felt his heart. I felt life burning inside of him. DK would stand and be counted. And be counted upon. No one individual, or legion of friends will hold you Dom, or the family up entirely, but we'll try. Thought, DK, I was an only child. Love you as a brother #TeamDK pic.twitter.com/2QkbWYdtRS
— Ron MacLean (@Ron_MacLean) March 7, 2019
The Sea Dogs unveiled a Wall of Honour for Kelly in the concourse of Harbour Station last December.
The team says it will observe a moment of silence before Thursday night’s game at Harbour Station.
