Travis Roy, a former Boston University ice hockey player who was an inspiration to so many, has died at the age of 45.
Roy's life was altered 11 seconds into his first shift with BU in 1995, when he went headfirst into the boards and became paralyzed from the neck down. He passed away Thursday from complications of being a quadriplegic.
Boston University athletics confirmed the news in a statement:
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Boston sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
“It is with heavy hearts that we mourn the passing of Travis Roy. His story is the epitome of inspiration and courage, and he was a role model and a hero to so many people. Travis’ work and dedication towards helping fellow spinal cord-injury survivors is nothing short of amazing. His legacy will last forever, not just within the Boston University community, but with the countless lives he has impacted across the country. Our sincere thoughts are with his wonderful family as well as his vast support group of friends and colleagues.”
Roy devoted his days after the tragic accident to helping others with spinal cord injuries. With the Travis Roy Foundation, he has helped SCI victims and families by providing grants and funding research.
The Boston Bruins also released a statement about Roy's passing on Thursday evening: