CC's equipment manager, Ed Warner, dies after stroke

Ed Warner's legacy lives on in a windowless room, deep in the heart of World Arena.

For the past two seasons, that's where the burly Colorado College hockey equipment manager - who the players called "Eddo" - brewed pregame coffee and hosted the players who he considered little brothers on his office couch.

Life, love, fishing, hockey - no topic was off limits.

"That's the No. 1 thing that I will miss and remember, just sitting on the couch in Ed's office and listening to his stories and telling him about our weekends or whatever happened at school that day or around the house," recent graduate Jimmy Kilpatrick said. "It made me excited to come to the rink."

Warner, 35, died Wednesday after suffering a massive stroke Monday, just days after returning from the CC women's soccer team's training trip to Italy.

A memorial service is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. today at Shove Chapel on CC's campus.

A native of Chenango Forks, N.Y., Warner took over equipment management for CC's two Division I programs two years ago after three seasons at Union College (N.Y.), where he also worked as assistant lacrosse coach.

Raised in the ice rink his family owned near Binghamton, N.Y., Warner drove his first Zamboni at age 8 and soon learned to sharpen skates and mend tattered equipment.

At CC, Warner thrived in his behind-the-scenes role, whether it was hanging Tigers banners in foreign locker rooms - "Just to make them feel a little more at home," he said - or lifting the spirits of a downtrodden player.

"Tonight's your night," Warner said on more than one occasion.

After one season, Warner continued to encourage goaltender Matt Zaba as he navigated the world of professional hockey.

"More than anything, he was just a really good friend," said Zaba, a 2007 graduate. "It was always fun going and seeing him. He always knew how to make you laugh and put a smile on your face."

Still coming to grips with the news, coach Scott Owens said: "When it came to being with the players, he was with them in the locker room on a daily basis and was their friend and a big brother. He had a great disposition to him and a great way about him. ... We were a close staff and, as much as we're going to miss him professionally, we're going to miss him as a friend most of all."

He is survived by his mother, Sandy Warner, sister, Jody Fendick, niece, Sydney Fendick, and nephew, Colby Fendick, all of Binghamton.

The family has asked that, in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to Donor Alliance, 720 S. Colorado Blvd., Suite 800, Denver, CO 80246.