Jay Ott, known by many as Coach Jay, has spent his life being the guy that everyone can count on. He is truly a person who makes things better simply by being there. His generosity is woven into every part of his life, from the fire hall, to his family, to the hockey rink and everything in between.

Now as Jay is facing the toughest battle of his life, a fight against cancer, it is our turn to show Jay and his family just how much they mean to all of us, and our appreciation for all the ways they have affected our lives. For someone who has spent his life being the board member, the coach, the mentor, the volunteer, the helping hand, the one who carries others through their hardest moments, it is not easy for Jay or Kim to be on the receiving end. But this is our moment to give back to the family that is always giving to others and to surround Jay and his family with the same love, strength, and support that he’s poured into our lives, our teams, our communities, and our hearts.

From the Lynx to Grrrowl and Every Rink In between

Around the rink, the ball diamond, and to be honest- in a lot of his life- Jay is know as “Coach Jay”. Coach Jay is truly the heartbeat of the Lumsden Lynx Hockey program and a person with a passion for female hockey unlike many this province has seen. The things he has done for female hockey is not just a passion, it has been transformational to the game. Coach Jay has poured his heart into the Lynx and Grrrowl hockey programs, building not just skilled athletes, but confident young women who carry his lessons far beyond the rink.

If you have ever seen Jay at the rink, you have seen this passion in action. He always takes the time to pull girls aside and give them feedback on how they are doing, to comment on something that happened in their game or to ask them how their other sports are doing. It is rare to find a coach who remembers names, faces and everything about a player like Coach Jay. It does not matter if he has coached these girls for years, or simply been on the ice with them at a camp- he cares so deeply about their growth as athletes and as humans. His impact stretches far beyond the Lynx- Jay has helped shape the culture of female hockey across Saskatchewan, advocating for opportunities, equity, and excellence at every level.

Jay has this way of connecting with players of every age and skill level. From C level to AA, from U7 to U22, the impact that he has on the players he coaches is immeasurable, truly. The hours he has devoted to growing this game is unbelievable. Coach Jay’s legacy in hockey is already written in the lives he’s touched, and it continues to grow with every girl who laces up her skates because of him.

A Firefighter With the Biggest Heart

Jay has been a Professional Firefighter with Regina Fire and Protective Services for 19 years. A passionate firefighter and someone who cares about the small details. He works hard around the halls, is a strong communicator, and a natural leader. This lets him excel at every position he has stepped into. He takes great pride in all that he does. A mentor to many, Jay is someone who you can ask for advice about life, anything you’re struggling with, the job, a home renovation, or how to make a proper Cesar salad (legitimately, it’s the best you’ll ever have). Cooking and entertaining is certainly a passion for Jay.

Around 5 years ago Jay pushed for and created the Regina Firefighters Charities and Benevolence Committee. This is a 2 part committee that serves 2 very uniquely different goals and groups of people, both of which speak volumes to Jay’s character and passion for community service.

Hydrants and Hearts fundraises, donates, volunteers, and serves the Regina Community in so many ways through project campaigns, nonprofit partnerships, and simply good will and showing up. H&H in a very short time has done some incredible things for the Regina Community.

The Benevolence Committee serves firefighters in times of need. Years ago, Jay was inspired by acts of kindness shown on the job and was looking for a way to ensure all who needed help had the opportunity to be supported by their colleagues. This committee (funded completely by the firefighters) offers financial assistance, coverage for shifts, a helping hand and an empathetic heart when firefighters need it the most. Having this in place has only intensified the bond and care of the brotherhood and sisterhood for all Local 181 employees.

Hydrants and Hearts and The Firefighters Benevolence Fund would simply not exist if it wasn’t for Jay’s dedication, devotion, and countless hours volunteering his time to these causes.

How Jay is Doing, What’s to Come, and How We Can Help

Jay was diagnosed with Stage 3 Metastatic Throat and Neck Cancer at the beginning of August. Given that he hosts multiple female hockey camps in August they decided to keep it private as Jay did not want the development of the athletes and the bond he shares with them being overshadowed by Coach Jay’s cancer.

The family had a tentative treatment plan scheduled to commence at Allan Blair this week and were also looking at alternative options out of country given the location of Jay’s tumour, how aggressive the treatment plan was going to be and the long term effects this will have along with high probability of a cancer like his returning.

2 weeks ago, a life threatening infection and rapid growing cancer to his lymph nodes altered all of these plans. Jay was in the hospital for 9 days where he was given multiple different medications and was highly encouraged to start both his radiation and chemotherapy immediately. As of today, Jay has already undergone 6 of his 35 Max Dose Radiation treatments and 1 round of chemotherapy. He is back home with family trying hard to adjust to the new lifestyle, remaining positive, and doing all that he can to ensure he’s in the right frame of mind to fight this head on with all that he has.

This GoFundMe is about easing the stress for the Ott’s that a life changing event like this brings. It’s about giving Kim the ability to step away from work without worry so she can support Jay in everything that he needs. It’s about ensuring their daughter Jacee has all the support she needs as they navigate this journey together.

Your donation helps take away some of the stress they are under so they can focus on keeping life as normal as possible for Jacee, focus on Jay’s treatment and focus on being together as a family. This GoFundMe will also assist them in the ability to look at out of country treatment options if need be.

Jay has always believed in the power of community, and now it’s our turn to show him just how strong the Coach Jay community truly is. If you’re able, please consider donating. If not, sharing this campaign and sending your love is just as powerful. Jay has given so much to our communities and now it’s our chance to give back to him with the same heart and generosity he’s shown to everyone he knows.