VIDEO: Blackhawks mourn the loss of Clint Reif, we celebrate his life.

The Chicago Blackhawks are in mourning today as it was announced yesterday that Assistant Equipment Manager Clint Reif has passed away. Reif was in his ninth season with the Chicago Blackhawks equipment staff and his sixth as Assistant Equipment Manager. According to a DuPage County coroner statement, Reif was found unresponsive in his Lombard home, where he was pronounced dead at 8:32 a.m. The death still is under investigation by the coroner’s office and Lombard police, officials said. Before joining the Blackhawks in the 2005-06 season, Reif spent one season with the American Hockey League’s Chicago Wolves. Earlier, Reif spent two seasons with the Orlando Seals (ACHL), Orlando Solar Bears (IHL) and Fort Wayne Komets (IHL) and one season with the Mobile Mystics (ECHL In an official statement released yesterday, the Blackhawks expressed their sadness: “We are deeply saddened by the untimely loss of one of our own family members this morning,” the Hawks said in a statement. “Like all trainers and support staff within our organization, Clint was instrumental in helping our players and coaches prepare and compete both on and off the ice. Our sincerest sympathies go out to the Reif family.’’ Head Coach Joel Quenneville was overcome with emotion when asked about Reif: “Our hearts and our prayers go out to [wife] Kelly and the four children,” said the Hawks coach, his eyes damp. “The training staff and the trainers’ fraternity, which is as tight as in any field, all lost a brother today. Tough day. Great guy.” The Blackhawks paid their respects to the family with a moment of silence before the game. The players also wore a special “CR” decal on their helmets. He is survived by his wife, Kelly; their three daughters, Florence, Aislynn and Colette; and his son, C.J. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Reif family in this very difficult time.