Updated

The game of hockey lost a great ambassador with the death last week of EJ McGuire, Vice President of Central Scouting and a former NHL assistant coach. Here's some of what the hockey world has had to say:

"I think EJ had four important things in his life -- his wife Terry, the girls (daughters Jacqueline and Erin) and hockey. But as important as hockey was, I know his family always came first. Everybody liked EJ. He was so respected and so admired. He was a great people-person and I don't think anybody had a bad word to say about him. People always talk about the game of hockey and how different hockey people are. Well I think EJ was emblematic of how good hockey people really are." -- NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman

"EJ was one of those pure-and-simple hockey people. … Right to the end, EJ was worried about Central Scouting and the League and the people who work for him." -- NHL Senior Vice President of Hockey Operations Colin Campbell

"I really enjoyed EJ. Just the type of man he is, I think transcends hockey. He was an outstanding coach, but a lot of the things he's done and worked with with the League has touched a lot of people at all levels of hockey." -- San Jose Sharks GM Doug Wilson

"Without any question, his passion and leadership and ability taught me so much. When he made a point, he did it with such tact and professionalism. You could feel the passion in his voice every time he spoke and you just wanted to make sure you never disappointed him." -- Jack Barzee, Central Scouting

"On behalf of the Philadelphia Flyers, I would like to personally extend my condolences to EJ's wife, Terry, and their daughters, Jacqueline and Erin. EJ was a close, personal friend of mine who loved hockey as much as he loved life. I always enjoyed spending time with him. We would often talk about our team, the game, and our families. He always had great insights and that's something I'm going to miss. He was one of the most knowledgeable men our sport has ever known. It's a sad day for the Flyers and a sad day for hockey." -- Flyers owner Ed Snider

"I am deeply saddened by the news of our good friend EJ McGuire's passing. EJ was a good hockey man that was highly regarded in any part of the game he was involved in, from coaching to scouting to management. EJ was a good friend to many of us in the hockey world and he will be missed by us all." -- Flyers GM Paul Holmgren

"He's in good company now. I'm sure he's up there, with our good friend Roger Neilson and some of the other gang. Peter Zezel is probably asking, 'Why did you bench me,' and Pelle Lindbergh is saying, 'Do you realize the number of times you pulled me?' But he impacted my career … he had a great part of my responsibility of being a head coach. He was a young brother that I really relied on. I'll be indebted to him for the rest of my life and I'll cherish my moments and memories with him. -- Former Flyers coach Mike Keenan

"EJ was a very dedicated coach, in whatever capacity he was involved in hockey. It was only a pleasure and an honor to work with him as an assistant coach. He was dedicated to doing the right things and passing along his knowledge. He always tried to better himself from an educational standpoint and as a person. I can't speak highly enough about him. EJ was a great man, loved his family, dedicated to the sport of hockey. It was a pleasure working along with him." -- Former Flyers coach Bill Barber

"He appeared when you needed him. He had a sense … he provided something very important for Mike [Keenan] and that was the pulse of the locker room and that's really critical in the game. It's important that the coaches have a sense of what's going on in the room. EJ could just appear, like a shadow. When something was going on he could appear just when he was needed. It was a pretty unique ability." -- Former Flyers captain Dave Poulin

"What I remember about EJ in our locker room was how dedicated he was, how articulate he was, how committed he was not only to our group but just the game in general. It always impressed me about him." -- Former Flyers captain Keith Primeau

"He's like the definition of a hockey guy. How many rinks he must have been in in his life. He lived it, he worked it. … That was his life." -- NHL writer and commentator E.J. Hradek