Flyers founder Ed Snider dies at 83

The Philadelphia Flyers announced Monday the death of team founder Ed Snider from complications relating to cancer.

He was 83.

"Mr. Snider was an icon - the father of the Philadelphia Flyers hockey club, an entrepreneur, a philanthropist, a risk-taker and a true visionary in the sports and entertainment industry," the Flyers wrote. "He was widely respected and admired for his passion, his vision, and his leadership, not only on the ice, but in the game of life as well."

Snider was responsible for bringing the Flyers to the NHL in 1967. They were the first NHL expansion team to win the Stanley Cup, in 1974, and repeated as champions in 1975. In 2005, he created the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation to provide inner-city children in the Philadelphia area with the opportunity to learn to play hockey.

As his children shared in a statement through the team, he remained a fan of his team until the very end:

Unrivaled, however, was his love for the Philadelphia Flyers Hockey Club, the team he created 50 years ago and to which he remained fiercely devoted through his final days. With every game during the push to make the playoffs this spring we hoped he would survive to see the Flyers win just one more game. He gave the last ounce of his indomitable energy and strength to live through this hockey season, but now the Flyers must win without him.

He fought his last years, months and days with courage and grace and recounted his love for many including his Flyers family and fans. We are grateful for the outpouring of love and support from the community, his friends and all those who were fortunate to have been touched by him in some way, large or small.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman offered the following on behalf of the league: