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“He made it fun for his clients,’’ said Hewitt, a sports anchor and producer with CTV-Regina who was friends with Ash for more than 40 years. “He wasn’t afraid to stick his nose out with a helmet and a light on his head.’’

Hewitt said that one of Ash’s proudest moments came after the men’s hockeygold-medal game at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

Ash supplied the huge flag that was carried by Sidney Crosby and other members of Canada’s team after clinching the gold medal. Ash later donated the flag to the Canadian Hockey Hall of Fame.

“It’s an absolute thrill. I’m speechless,” Ash told the Leader-Post in 2010. “It’s beyond anything I ever thought I would be a part of. It’s my Olympic moment and I’ll never forget it.”

Hewitt added that Saskatchewan’s 43-40 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the 1989 Grey Cup game was another highlight of Ash’s many tours.

“The 1989 Grey Cup game stood out because it was so unexpected and such a shootout,’’ Hewitt said. “Those are the two things that stood out for him.’’

Ash started Dash Tours while working out of his parents’ basement. He also was employed as a producer with CKCK-TV, but he eventually left the station to focus on his tour business.

“He loved his job running Dash Tours,’’ Hewitt said. “He told me that it was never a job for him. He loved it the whole time he did it.’’

Dash Tours has grown to include concerts tours, national and international figure skating events as well as professional sports.

“A lot of people over the years have had something to do with Dash Tours or David or have seen him at an event,’’ said Jodi Grills, who has been the office manager at Dash Tours for 23 years. “(Because of that) I’ve been getting phone calls and emails from all over the world.’’

Ash is survived by his wife Saphyre. A memorial service is to be held on Friday, 2 p.m., at the Regina Funeral Home and Cemetery.

mmccormick@postmedia.com

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