Spruce Grove fundraising hockey game honours fallen Edmonton police officers

The annual Battle for the Badges charity hockey sport took on added which means Wednesday night time after the slayings of two Edmonton cops.

The sport at Grant Fuhr Enviornment in Spruce Grove is a fundraiser for Legacy Place Society, an Alberta-based group that gives assist to first responders and army personnel in search of psychological well being assist.

The occasion noticed the Parkland Athletic Membership U18AA group tackle a group made up of officers from the Parkland County RCMP and members of the Spruce Grove Fireplace Division (SGFD).

The sport on Thursday was additionally a chance to honor constables Travis Jordan and Brett Ryan, who had been killed within the line of responsibility final week.

The 2 younger officers responded to a home violence name on the Baywood Flats complicated simply off Groat Street and 114 Avenue.

The officers met the 16-year-old shooter’s mom exterior. Once they went as much as the suite she shared with a 73-year-old man and their son, {the teenager} opened fireplace on the officers. Neither had the prospect to even draw their very own weapons.

“It was a troublesome week. It actually reveals what we undergo behind the scenes, and it might be any one in every of us,” mentioned Battle for the Badges organizer Miles Valiquette.

“It might be any first responder: it might be EMT, it might be a firefighter who arrives at that door first.”

Earlier than the sport, a tribute was held for the 2 officers.

Ryan lived in group west of Edmonton. In his spare time, the 30-year-old was a minor hockey official with the Spruce Grove Minor Hockey Affiliation and even officiated final yr’s Battle for the Badges sport final yr.

His spouse Ashley Ryan can be a primary responder: a paramedic who was on shift and on the Royal Alexandra Hospital when her husband was introduced in after he was shot.

Carrying an Edmonton police service jacket, she dropped the puck in the course of the ceremonial put-down.

Valiquette, a detailed good friend of Ryan’s, mentioned the fallen officer and former paramedic was particular.

“He’s a group particular person. He was brave. He knew what he wished,” Valiquette mentioned.

“He was the primary particular person to face up for his buddies and discuss to all our buddies, he was the nicest particular person in our group of buddies.

“He was the particular person to present again to everybody.”

The deaths of the 2 males had a big impact on the whole police and emergency providers group.

“It positively hits exhausting when it is this near house right here,” RCMP Cpl. Andrew Baron mentioned. Ryan was about to change into a father for the primary time – his spouse is due this summer season.

“It was somebody who had a younger household and you’ll put your self of their sneakers.”

“Numerous our officers knew the members that had been killed in Edmonton and have some shut ties there, so it hits all of us actually, actually exhausting,” RCMP Insp. Added Kevin McGillivary.

As he offers with the tragedy, Valiquette is grateful for the chance to honor his good friend.

“It is dangerous that it needs to be like this and that Brett needs to be acknowledged on this means, however I believe persons are going to recollect Brett for the higher and see what he did and delivered to the group,” he mentioned.

A regimental funeral will probably be held for the 2 officers at Rogers Place on Monday, March 27. International Information will broadcast it stay on tv, radio and on-line.

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Edmontonians line streets to honor 2 fallen cops

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