Teammates at Hoffman Estates High School loved Ken Snow. Opponents, not so much.
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Former goalie Stan Anderson played at rival Palatine High School.
"He scored in 47 straight matches, said Anderson. "That's sickening in a great way, that's talent at an uber level."
Snow would have turned 50 Tuesday. He was found dead Sunday, a victim of COVID-19.
As a healthy former athlete, relatives say he was determined to beat it and never went to a hospital for treatment.
"I kept thinking this can't be right, there must be a mistake," said his cousin Alexis Eckersall.
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Relatives say they were a close family that spent holidays and vacations together.
"It was such a shock, it's taking time to absorb, I have so many memories of good times" said another cousin, Ray Eckersall.
His former college coach calls Snow the best scorer in school history.
A four-time All-American, and two-time national player of the year, Snow led Indiana University to a National championship in 1988. He still holds the scoring record there.
John Trask was a teammate, and a friend.
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"Kenny was a special player and a special guy," said Trask.
There was no professional outdoor league in the U.S. after Snow finished college. He played indoor before eventually starting a camp for young players with the hope of sharing his passion for the game.
"It was his mental approach that put him on a different level than everyone else," said Trask.
Snow lived in Michigan and his immediate family planned a small memorial service there Tuesday.