Superfan who gave Sidney Crosby giant flag at Vancouver 2010 Olympics dies

REGINA – The fan who gave Sidney Crosby a giant Canadian flag to carry around the ice after Team Canada won Olympic gold in 2010 has died.

Dave Ash was known as a superfan to many in Regina and around Saskatchewan.

On obituary posted on his company’s Facebook page says the 61-year-old died Sunday of cancer.

Ash, owner of Dash Tours, was often at Saskatchewan Roughrider games with a flashing light on a helmet and said he never missed a Grey Cup game.

He also spent several years playing Gainer the Gopher, the Canadian Football League team’s mascot.

But Ash was best known for handing over the flag to Canada’splayers when they won gold in Vancouver — the flag was later donated to the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Dash Tours organizes trips to concerts and professional sporting events.