BOSTON – MAY 19: Before the start of his press conference at the Boston Harbor Hotel, Travis Roy gathers his thoughts. He will graduate Sunday, five years after his paralyzing hockey accident. (Photo by Pat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
Vermont Gov. Phil Scott says Travis Roy, a hockey player and philanthropist who died recently, was one of his personal "heroes."
Roy was paralyzed 11 seconds into his first game for Boston University in 1995.
He later became an advocate for spinal cord research and raised millions for that cause.
More on Travis Roy
Scott, a Republican, said Friday that Roy's dedication to fundraising for research was a longtime inspiration, MyNBC5 reports.
Roy was a 20-year-old freshman making his debut for BU in the season opener when he crashed headfirst into the boards after checking a North Dakota opponent. He would later give motivational speeches from his wheelchair.
