Skip to content
Join our Newsletter

Hockey community rallies around coach's family

Scott Hebert worked with many top athletes including Chicago Blackhawks defenceman Brent Seabrook
Hebert
Scott Hebert with his family. Photo from GoFundMe

The sudden death of a well-known fitness coach has many Richmondites holding their loved ones closer.

Scott Hebert, owner of Excel Fitness, passed away recently, leaving behind his wife Rosalie and daughter, Jessie. A GoFundMe fundraiser has now surpassed $28,000 for Jessie to pursue her post secondary education The fundraiser was organized by close friend and neighbour Gregg Wheeler. 

“With the tragic loss of our dear friend Scott Hebert, we have had numerous requests about how people can offer support. The family would be grateful, that in lieu of flowers, a small contribution be made to support their daughter Jessie’s pursuit of a post-secondary education,” said Wheeler.

Hebert, who was the Vancouver Canucks' assistant strength and conditioning coach from 1999-2001, had worked with many top local athletes including Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook. 

That relationship began over 15 years ago when Seabrook was still a young teen playing for the Western Hockey League's Lethbridge Hurricanes. 

Seabrook is flying in Rosalie and Jessie to Chicago for his 1,000 NHL game on Thursday night.

Vancouver Stealth lacrosse star Logan Schuss also was one of Hebert’s longtime clients. The pair became good friends and Schuss’ workouts were prominent on Hebert’s Instagram page.

“Scotty meant so much more to me than just my trainer. Over the years, we developed a strong friendship like he did with so many of his athletes,” said Schuss. “He was so devoted to each one of his athletes and truly cared about them as a person, as well as their performance.

“Every time I would walk into his gym, I would be greeted with a massive smile and an even bigger hug followed by the exact same quote each day: ‘Logie! Do we have a Helluva day for you my friend!’ His energy and passion would fill any room. You never needed any extra motivation other than not wanting to disappoint Scott.”

Hebert was also the longtime strength and conditioning coach of the B.C. Major Midget Hockey League’s Greater Vancouver Canadians. 

His relationship with head coach Phil Alalouf goes back to the days when his sons were playing minor hockey. 

The Canadians even negotiated for Hebert to continue to work with them in the Richmond Olympic Oval’s high performance training centre as a non-staff member when the club moved into the multi-purpose facility back in 2012. That’s how much he meant to the program. 

He had been running weekly dryland sessions for the players.

Alalouf was devastated when he learned of the news, hours before the team’s playoff game on March 18 in Langley.

“Scott was such an upbeat and positive guy who was just adored by our players and everybody,” said Alalouf. “He was more like a brother than a trainer to me.

“It was too tough to address the players about what had happened. I broke down. I had to get one of my assistants to do it who didn’t know Scott so well.”

Alalouf added the club is organizing a fundraiser alumni golf tournament in honour of Hebert and former captain Ryan Wilkinson who passed away in December.

See fundraiser by clicking here