Ottawa Senators assistant coach Bob Jones diagnosed with ALS

The Ottawa Senators organization issued a statement Tuesday regarding the health of assistant coach Bob Jones. 

A devoted member of our family, Bob Jones, has been diagnosed with ALS,” said Senators general manager Pierre Dorion. “Bob and his family’s wishes are to take the courageous step of making his condition public in an effort to drive ALS awareness as he fights this disease.”

“We have been working internally with Bob and his family as he takes on this challenge; while Bob will continue with his coaching duties, he has the full support of the organization to take any time he needs away from the club during the season to concentrate on his health and his family.”

As Jones and his family share his diagnosis with the public, one of their goals is to help raise awareness surrounding ALS Research. Anyone considering contributions should consider donating to the ALS Society of Canada, and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

In July 2019, Jones was appointed to head coach D.J. Smith’s coaching staff. He is currently in his fourth year with the Senators. The 53-year-old previously spent time as an assistant coach with the American Hockey League’s (AHL) Texas Stars in 2018-19 before making the jump to the NHL. Prior to that, Jones was a well-respected coach in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) who made stops with the Soo Greyhounds, Toronto St. Michael’s Majors, Sudbury Wolves, Windsor Spitfires and Oshawa Generals. 

In 2008-09, Jones was an associate coach with the Spitfires along with Smith and helped the club capture an OHL championship and Memorial Cup. The Spitfires rose to the top of the league after posting a 57-10-1 record. The team boasted future NHL players like Ottawa Senators forward Austin Watson, Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Ryan Ellis, Boston Bruins forward and 2010 first-overall draft pick Taylor Hall, and Anaheim Ducks forward Adam Henrique. That following season in 2009-10, the Spitfires once again repeated as OHL and Memorial Cup champions. This time, they not only had Ellis, Hall, Henrique and Watson but it also featured Arizona Coyotes grinder Zack Kassian, Seattle Kraken netminder Philipp Grubauer, and Anaheim Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler. Following his tenure with the Spitfires, Jones joined the Generals as their head coach in 2015-16 and throughout his three seasons there he led them to a 103-85-16 record. 

The Senators’ family stands united by Bob’s side and the organization and is asking the entire hockey community for its encouragement, prayers and support.