Hockey Remembers

A mark of respect is displayed by during the Alberta Female Hockey League Midget Elite AA game between Calgary Fire Red and Rocky Mountain Raiders at Great Plains Arena, Calgary, Nov 11, 2018. © J. Ashley Nixon

 

First World War ended this day, one hundred years ago. A special anniversary of Remembrance Day, when we can take a few moments, in unison, to reflect on the ultimate sacrifice of our service men and women, all the horror that war brings, so we may continue along our own ways with freedom. On the ice was a fitting tribute, led by the players; the playing of The Last Post; and a pause in silence at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, 2018.

Diving Shot from McEwen

It turned out to be a goal per period for Fire Red against Rocky Mountain Raiders at Great Plains Arena, Calgary. Julia McEwen scored the first, in a splendid team attacking move. Jennifer Nixon passed the puck hard left over to Olivia Sutton, who reached in to tip a shot, deflected by Ella Kitchen. The puck rebounded off goalie Ellen Poelzer’s pad and McEwen stretched out with a diving shot past Raiders’ Lauren Bull’s stick and the goalie’s glove hand. Fire Red killed off a penalty at the end of the period but the Raiders went even just over a minute after the break, a goal scored by Dilayna Black Horse.

Reds Pull Ahead

The Reds pulled ahead again at the end of period two. Skye Mathews passed to Kayla Ironside, who wristed a shot to the net. Mathews drove in and battled to get the puck off the rebound to score. In the final twenty, Teah Workman took a pass from Julia McEwen and broke through the Raiders defence to shoot and score, top shelf. The Raiders almost came back with a couple of chances: a shot that rung off the post, then a breakaway that Fire Red goalie, Rebecca Boswell fabulously managed by pushing her pad hard out to her right.

Final score: Calgary Fire Red 3-1 Rocky Mountain Raiders.

Song of the match: The Last Post

The sound of a lone bugler playing the Last Post is one of the most recognized pieces of music in the world. It began, as one of several bugle calls, to regulate daily activities in military camps of the British Army. Specifically, the Last Post was sounded, for 45 seconds, at the end of the last inspection of sentry posts, to signal that a camp was secure for the night. By the 1850s it was played by regimental buglers over the graves of fallen soldiers, followed by a few moments of silent prayer or reflection and the sounding of the Reveille, the first bugle call of the day. It was a change in symbolism from marking the end of the day to the end of a life on this Earth.

By the time of the First World War, the music was familiar beyond the military as communities and gatherings at civil events used it as a mark of respect for their fallen comrades. That respect has continued through to our own time; the music has evolved into a longer, more mournful piece with drawn-out notes and pauses, lasting around 75 seconds.

It is our tribute, the anthem of the people, for our servicemen and women who made the ultimate sacrifice. And for that, we honour and thank you.

Up Next

Calgary Fire Red MAA is playing in the Wick Fest starting November 16. The next Alberta Female Hockey League game is on December 1, a road trip north to Grande Prairie to play against Peace Country PCFAC Storm at the Weyerhaeuser Arena, Coca-Cola Centre (puck drop: 17:30).

More Action

Please visit J. Ashley Nixon Communications for more photos from the Calgary Fire Red versus Rocky Mountain Raiders Elite Midget AA game, and quite a few others.

Standings

For the latest information on the Midget AA Elite standings, please visit the Alberta Female Hockey League.