Former Blazers' President and COO Don Moores died of a heart attack on Wednesday. He was 65 (Image Credit: Kamloops Blazers)

By Chad Klassen

DON MOORES

‘It’s like losing a brother’: Close friends remember Don Moores

Jul 2, 2021 | 5:31 PM

KAMLOOPS — “To me, it’s like losing a brother.”

Al Glendinning first got to know Don Moores in the Kamloops minor hockey system. They both went their separate ways to follow their hockey dreams – Moores with the Kamloops Chiefs and Glendinning with the Calgary Centennials.

However, they always kept in touch and had a soft spot for each other, reuniting in the city years later.

“He was a best friend. We hung out together, golfing, we’d do hockey in the winter,” said Glendinning. “We go back 45 years through sports, hockey.”

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Glendinning was golfing with Moores on Wednesday when he had a heart attack on the Kamloops Golf and Country Club and passed away. He says his demeanour with people was his greatest attribute.

“He would help anyone he could. He always had time for anyone who needed his time,” he said. “Just a generous, good guy. But the biggest thing about him was he was a natural leader.”

It’s why the Blazers hired Moores in 2016 as the team’s President and Chief Operating Officer. His death has sent shockwaves throughout the organization and entire hockey world.

“Don was great. He walked in here with a smile every day and just made people feel real good all the time,” said Blazers’ director of hockey operations Tim O’Donovan. “He just had so much passion for the Blazers. He had so much passion for the City of Kamloops being from here. He just raved about his family all the time — his grandkids, his kids. He was so proud.”

Mel Recchi first remembers meeting Moores in the late 1970s when Recchi worked in the newspaper business. He says he was just as chipper and positive.

“He was very easygoing. Nothing bothered him. The whole family was just such nice people and he fit into that mold,” said Recchi. “He was such a nice guy. He could talk to anybody, he was well-liked.”

It’s what made Don Moores so endearing to everyone who crossed his path. Don Moores was 65 years old and will be dearly missed by the Kamloops Blazers and the entire community.