Storm honour teammate, nearly pull off large comeback
By Tyler Lowey, Times Reporter
Tyler Lowey Photo
On Jan. 27, the Strathmore Storm midget 1 female squad honoured their fallen teammate, Emma Armstrong, by raising her No. 11 to the roof alongside other young, local athletes Markus Lavallee and Jordan McKinnon who have also passed away in recent years.
The Family Centre was at capacity as members of the local hockey programs and the community came out to pay their respects once again to the Armstrong family.
“We stand here today to pay tribute to this outstanding young person who touched us all; and through our memories, will be a positive influence on our lives,” said Storm Assistant Coach Sterling Hilton, who coached Armstrong for more than four years.
Players and coaches on both the Storm and Girls Hockey Calgary Inferno lined up along their respective blue lines for the pregame ceremony as Hilton was joined by Storm players Ashlyn Riley and Karissa Hammond to share a few words about their former teammate. The Armstrong family took in the ceremony from the penalty box.
“Although Emma isn’t here with us to finish the season, we know that every game she will be looking down on us,” said Hammond, who was joined by her teammates in wearing ribbons to honour their teammate and friend. “We will forever be a part of her family. We all love and miss her.”
Shortly after the speeches, a moment of silence was held; there wasn’t a dry eye in the arena following Armstrong’s jersey becoming immortalized above centre ice.
Hilton also announced that any money raised from the ceremonial game would go directly to the newly established Emma Armstrong Memorial Scholarship Fund. The bantam female Storm helped out with the 50/50 draw and were able to raise $1,030 for the newly established fund.
It might not have felt right, but there was still a game to be played in what was a battle between the No. 2 and 3 seeds in the Rocky Mountain Female Hockey League Blue South standings.
The Inferno jumped out to a 3-0 lead after the first frame. After regrouping during the intermission, the Storm began to battle back.
“These girls are having to grow up real fast with the pressure that’s on them to get through these games,” said Storm Head Coach Clay Armstrong. “They are showing their maturity, they’re coming together as a team, leaning on each other and the coaches. And even the coaches, including myself, have been leaning on the girls to get through these games.”
Riley netted the opening goal for the Storm and assisted on the second goal of the middle frame, as Justine Larson was able to whack in her third goal of the season, cutting the Inferno’s lead to 4-2.
With 29 seconds remaining on a third period power play for the Storm, Camryn Riley’s point shot was stuffed in by Olivia Wilson, bringing the Storm within one.
In the dying seconds, the Storm had a couple of whacks at the net, but Camryn’s point shot was blocked at the buzzer, ending the game and handing the Storm the 4-3 loss.
Of course, in the grand scheme of things, the one-goal loss isn’t the end of the world.
“We finished on a positive note and finished strong tonight,” said Clay. “This isn’t an event I want to rally around. I don’t want to treat it like that. I just want the girls to come together as a team and play as hard as they can for the rest of the season.”
It’s the only way Emma — who was one of the fiercest competitors in the dressing room — would want the season to end.