Former Spitfires’ head coach Jones diagnosed with ALS

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Former Windsor Spitfires’ head coach Bob Jones has been diagnosed with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

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The announcement was made through the Ottawa Senators’ communications department on Tuesday.

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The 53-year-old Jones, who still makes his off-season home in Tecumseh, is currently in his fourth season as an assistant coach with the NHL club under head coach D.J. Smith. The two developed a strong friendship while working with the Spitfires.

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

Jones and former Spitfires’ majority owner and head coach Bob Boughner were junior hockey teammates with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. Both were defenceman and both taken were taken in the the 1989 NHL Draft by the Detroit Red Wings.

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Jones played parts of five seasons of pro hockey in the minors before turning to coaching. He was an assistant with Sault Ste. Marie, Brampton, Toronto St. Michael’s and Sudbury before Boughner brought him on as an associate coach in 2007-08.

Jones spent eight seasons with the Spitfires and helped the team to back-to-back Ontario Hockey League titles and Memorial Cup titles in 2009 and 2010.

When Boughner left the club to become an assistant coach in the NHL Columbus Blue Jackets after the club’s second Memorial Cup title, Jones was named head coach for the 2010-11 season and guided the Spitfires to a 39-23-3-3 record with the club going on to reach the Western Conference final.

Boughner returned to the Spitfires the following season and Jones returned to his spot as associate coach before leaving to become head coach of the Oshawa Generals in 2015. He spent three seasons with the Generals and compiled a 103-85-10-6 record before moving on to become an assistant coach in the American Hockey League with the Texas Stars. He joined Smith’s staff the following season as an assistant coach.

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“We have been working internally with Bob and his family as he takes on this challenge,” Dorion said. “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.”

The statement said Jones is making the diagnosis public to help raise awareness for ALS research and he and his family ask that those considering contributions consider both the ALS Society of Canada and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

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

jpparker@postmedia.com

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