Former Moose PR head passes away

Former Manitoba Moose public relations director Matt Frost passed away on June 28 after a courageous battle with gastric cancer.

Frost was 33.

The Winnipeg native joined the Toronto Maple Leafs’ media relations department in October 2001 after serving as the PR director for the Moose. In the summer of 2004, he joined the internet services department of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment.

Frost was extremely passionate about his job and the organization. You could tell that by the fire in his eyes in the press box when the Leafs scored a big goal or after the game when he logged on to the internet to check the updated standings near the end of every regular season to analyze the latest playoff scenarios.

Matt’s easy-going approach served him well when dealing with Toronto’s management, coaches, players and media. He rarely got frustrated or angry and always carried himself in a professional manner. He had a sneaky sense of humour that would put a smile on your face, or have you in stitches when you least expected it.

After Matt was diagnosed with cancer, he always had a positive attitude and never seemed to feel sorry for himself. He once said, “I have a choice to make every morning. I can either be optimistic or pessimistic. I choose to be optimistic. You’ve got to play the hand you were dealt.” That’s exactly what he did.

During the 2005 Calder Cup Playoffs, Matt attended two games between the St. John’s Maple Leafs and Manitoba Moose in Winnipeg. In an interview with the Winnipeg Free Press about dealing with cancer, he was quoted as saying, “I don’t know if I’ve ever been considered a fighter, but I am now.”

Matt fought, and he fought to the end. In the process he left an indelible mark on everyone he came into contact with and taught us that maybe that bad day we think we are having, really isn’t that bad after all.

From MapleLeafs.com