With the winter sports season in the rearview mirror, it was a feel-good moment for the Nantucket boys' hockey team and its sixth-graders to show support for their 7-year-old standard bearer and end his high school hockey career on Monday. It was held at night. He was denied permission by the MIAA to lead his team onto the ice during a state quarterfinal game earlier this month.
As many of you already know, the MIAA awarded 7-year-old “flag girl” Laila Larivee the opportunity to lead the Whalers on the ice at Gallo Arena before the state quarterfinal game earlier this month. The application was rejected due to insurance issues.That's what she did every game. I have been waving the Whaler Pride flag for the past two years. She was devastated and was later seen hiding in a corner behind the stands, visibly upset as she “felt like I had done something wrong” after receiving the news. We heard that it had been discovered.
The Whalers supported her before the game, during breaks and after the game as she tried to cope with the simultaneous end of her season and hockey career. This also came after a one-year suspension for second-leading scorer Braden Knapp, which made state-wide news.
Support for Raila continued Monday night. On the night of her hockey awards ceremony, her seniors prepared a surprise for her that completely surprised her. They gave Laila a personalized jersey with her Nor'easters hockey number (coincidentally, No. 2, the same as Braden Knapps) and her name. They also gifted her a personalized photo of her senior.
After speaking with one of the hockey players' parents, she said the motive was that “the boys love Laila like a little sister and they wanted Laila to know how much she is part of the team.” He said it was something.
Upperclassmen also had their names, jersey numbers and graduation year written on their jerseys. They also gave Laila a silver Sharpie so the incoming graduate could sign her jersey.
