Islanders players and coaches also visited Avalanna frequently. They would play games and sing her favorite songs with her. They had their hearts stolen by a wonderful little girl. Soon after meeting her, the hockey team presented their biggest, little fan with an autographed Islanders Hockey Club jersey that had the No. 1 on the back and her name “Avalanna” above the number. She cherished her gift and the group of young men cherished her.

 

Sadly, earlier this week, Avalanna’s health took a turn for the worse.

 

“I was with her and her family last Tuesday night,” head coach Sean Tremblay (Newburyport, Mass.) said. “They’re close friends of mine. I just stroked her hair and rubbed her feet. She always liked that. It was a difficult night.” 

 

On Wednesday morning, Avalanna’s family took to Twitter to make the announcement no one wanted to read. 

 

"Our darling Avalanna went to Heaven this morning,” the Routh family wrote. “Oh Avalanna, the brightest star - you took our hearts with you, our greatest Love."

 

The next day, Bieber responded with a tweet of his own.

 

"Just got the worst news ever,” Bieber wrote. “One of the greatest spirits I have ever known is gone. Please pray for her family and for her. RIP Avalanna. I love you."

 

The news of Avalanna’s passing left every Islanders’ player with a heavy heart.

 

The team took the ice for a home game in Tyngsboro, Mass. on Friday against the Boston Bandits and, as they played, Avalanna’s Islanders jersey hung beside the team bench. The Islanders pulled out a 3-2 win, but it was not just another game for the players or coaches.

 

“We dedicated this one to Avalanna,” Tremblay explained in a quiet post-game Islanders dressing room. “This was a tough one for us to play. She was on our minds throughout the game.”

 

Tremblay’s squad does not have a game scheduled for Saturday or Sunday.

 

“It’s a good thing we don’t play this weekend,” the coach said, visibly saddened by the loss of his little fan. “We’ll be at the wake and the funeral.”  

 

That, quite simply, won’t be easy for Tremblay and his team after forming such a strong bond with Avalanna, but he knows the Routh family needs support now more than ever.

 

“It’s been so hard on the family,” Tremblay said. “We want to be there for them and support them.”

 

This weekend, as you focus on how much you miss professional hockey because of a lockout and complain about the real NFL referees, please stop for a moment and remember, maybe even say a prayer for a little hockey fan who made an immense impression on a hockey team.

 

The Islanders are a team that gives their all on the ice, but more importantly, off it. And they’re a team that will always walk together as Avalanna’s Angels, as the angel herself, Avalanna, skates with them.