Augustana announces the passing of assistant hockey coach Chad Demers

Augustana Athletics announced Friday that men's hockey assistant coach Chad Demers passed away Thursday after a long battle with cancer. He was 33.

"All of our love and support are with the Demers family at this time," Augustana hockey head coach Garrett Raboin said in a press release. "Chad was so much more than a coach. He was an amazing son, brother, husband to Danika, and father to Beau, Thea, and Ella."

"Despite our hurt and sadness, we are extremely grateful for the time we did get with Chad. He has made us all better and provided a model for how to value family, each other, and how to attack the opportunity to play the greatest sport on earth. There are no words great enough to express the impact that he has had on our hockey program.  The lessons and example that he provided will forever live on with Viking Hockey."

Funeral services will take place on Monday at 10 a.m. at the Grafton High School Gymnasium.  Visitation will be Sunday from 3-6 p.m., with a prayer service at 6:00 p.m. at the Grafton Lutheran Church.

Chad arrived for the inaugural season of Augustana hockey after a successful 2022-23 season in the USHL as the associate head coach of the Fargo Force. While in Fargo, he helped coach the Force to a record-setting season of 40-14-4-4, and a chance at the Clark Cup. The Grafton, North Dakota, native played for the Force from 2008-11, serving as the team captain in 2010-11.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Augustana announces the passing of assistant hockey coach Chad Demers