Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics

EDMONTON – As the Griffins women's hockey team gathered after practice earlier this week, assistant coach Syd Thomlison took the floor to share what it was like to play with Jordyn Reimer.

The lifeblood of MacEwan's ACAC dynasty before she graduated from the program in 2020 with more regular season games to her credit than any player in Griffins' history (117), Reimer is never far from the thoughts of team veterans, alumni, and current players after she was tragically killed in a motor vehicle crash in May. 

On Friday, prior to the Griffins' home opener vs. Alberta (7 p.m., Downtown Community Arena, Canada West TV), her family will be in attendance from Winnipeg as a copy of the banner that hangs in the rafters featuring her name and #9 will be presented to them.

Forever a Griffin. Forever in all our hearts.

"One of the most impactful statements Syd made (on Tuesday night) is we want to get our program to the point that every single Griffin now and onward to the future, they're going to know exactly who Jordyn Reimer was, what she brought to the program and the impact that she had," said interim head coach Chris Leeming.

"We want to honour her. We're playing for her on Friday. It's bigger than us as individuals. We're playing for something bigger than ourselves."

Jordyn Reimer, left, receives her graduating senior photo from MacEwan Griffins head coach Lindsay McAlpine before the team's final home regular season game of 2019-20 (Joel Kingston photo).

That's a comforting thought to Reimer's friend and teammate Amanda Murray who will take the ceremonial face-off on behalf of the Griffins with that in mind – she's playing for her.

"I think it will be a little emotional, especially for the ones that knew her," said the fifth-year veteran, who is an assistant captain with the Griffins this season. "I know it will be emotional, but it will also be like, 'I'm playing for her, so I can do it.' 

"We are playing for her. I know it will be a little hard at first, but it will be nice to be surrounded by everyone at least."

For the Reimer family, the moment will be understandably tough and emotional. Sister Nikki Reimer, who played on the Griffins with Jordyn, will be in attendance, along with her parents Doug and Karen, and sisters Alex and Andrea.

"It's still difficult to come to terms with the fact she's not going to be there at the rink on Friday, but it is really special to see a program that Jordyn enjoyed and cherished so much honour and share the impact that she had on the program," said Nikki, who was captain of the Griffins during her final university season in 2018-19. 

"I know Jordyn's time at MacEwan was so special to her. It meant the world to her. She loved her time there. She loved the friends and connections she made. It's just special to see the program and the coaches and the girls reciprocate how much Jordyn meant to them as well."

Jordyn Reimer, seen sharing a moment with linemate Chantal Ricker during the 2019-20 ACAC final, left an impression on her teammates that will never be forgotten (Len Joudrey photo).

In an article published at macewangriffins.ca in the aftermath of her passing, teammates shared stories that all featured the same theme: Jordyn Reimer was one of a kind, a friend to all, funny off the ice and a hard worker on it.

"Hockey-wise, it was definitely 'I want to be as loud as her,'" said Murray, who came in as a rookie when Reimer was in her third year, but instantly became fast friends with her. "She was loud on the bench, I wanted to match that. She would always be louder than me. And it was 'she works hard, I'm going to work hard.' 

"She was someone I really looked up to a lot on the ice. It was just something about her that made you want to do the same."

Nikki grew up playing sports with Jordyn, but the three years she spent as her teammate on the Griffins (2016-19) were the best of her life. Among her most prized memories is a picture taken of the two of them on the ice at NAIT Arena celebrating together after the Griffins won the 2018-19 ACAC Championship trophy.

Sisters Jordyn, left, and Nikki Reimer celebrate the Griffins' third-straight ACAC title in 2018-19. It was the first championship final that Jordyn got to play in (Len Joudrey photo).

"It was the best three years of hockey I ever had because of her at MacEwan," said Nikki. "It was inspiring to see my sister come into her own on the Griffins. She was loud, loyal, she was passionate and so hard-working. Everything she put on the ice and in the dressing room, everything she did (inspired) everyone to follow."

Her younger sister was already in her second year on the Griffins when Nikki arrived in 2016 as a transfer from the University of Alberta.

"Every team that we played on, I was there a year before her," she said. "At MacEwan, that was her team. She started at MacEwan, and she invited me to come play there with her. So, roles were reversed, and I was coming onto her team now. 

"She was so established on the team. Everyone loved her. She had all her friends, and I could see a new Jordyn. She was confident. It was just inspiring for me to see her that way."

Those friends came together in support of the Reimer family after the tragedy, many flying to Winnipeg for her Celebration of Life ceremony.

"I think I can speak on behalf of my family when I say we really appreciate all the support," said Nikki. "It's really special for us to see. We know what MacEwan meant to Jordyn, so it's really nice to see the impact that she had on the program as well. 

"All her friends and the coaching staff – a lot of Jordyn's teammates and friends from MacEwan flew into Winnipeg to pay their respects at her celebration and we were all just overwhelmed by the support. It's really special to see all the people who truly loved Jordyn."

Jordyn Reimer (back row, centre) and her 2017-18 MacEwan Griffins teammates ham it up for the team photo shoot at the Downtown Community Arena. Teammates describe how much fun she was (Len Joudrey photo).

So, Friday night, the Griffins will play for her. But the truth is they will always play for her. 

She will never be forgotten.

"I think it's impossible to describe in a few words what Jordyn meant to me," said Nikki. "She was my best friend. All my sisters, we like to say we're each other's soulmates. 

"She still means the absolute world to me, and she always will."