Wayne Simmonds says owners illness fueled his motivation.

Tragedy struck the Flyers' organization on Monday with the announcement that founder Ed Snider had succumbed to his battle with cancer, but it's clear that his illness, and his passing, has and will serve as motivation for the players and the team he loved.

On Monday many players spoke to reporters and expressed great sadness at the passing of Mr. Snider, but comments from one player, forward Wayne Simmonds, stood out. While it was clear Mr. Snider's death had an emotional on Simmonds as well, Simmonds was also ready to move forward, not because he doesn't care, but because he knows that's what Mr. Snider would want.

“How do we go on? It's not difficult, Mr. Snider was all about hockey, this is what we wanted. So glad we got into the playoffs for him,” said Simmonds on Monday.

“Although we will be playing with a heavy heart there's nothing we'd want more than to win him another Stanley Cup.”

Mr. Snider may be gone, and we may never see another like him, but one thing is certain, his love of the game, and his legacy, will live on through his team and his players.

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