Rhiannon Paskall dropped the puck before a gold medal hockey game in honour of her murdered mother Julie Paskall.
It was one year ago that Paskall was brutally attacked in the parking lot of a community ice arena in Surrey after arriving to pick up her son, a referee who was officiating a minor hockey game. She died in hospital from her injuries Dec. 31.
The community of Newton rallied around the Paskall family then, and they have once more, hosting the Julie Paskall Memorial Hockey Tournament. Rhiannon says hockey was an important part of her mother’s life.
“She was many things but hockey was a big thing with my brothers so it’s quite honourable for sure.”
It’s a sentiment echoed by tournament director Harbhajan Parhar,
“This Christmas tournament is going on for 30 plus years for Surrey Minor Hockey and Julie Paskall has been dedicated working at this tournament. So we thought dedicating this tournament to her was the best thing to do.”
Paskall’s murder is one of many high profile homicides that have many Surrey residents worried about their safety.
Read more: People don’t feel safe walking in Surrey due to crime: community activist
27-year-old Yosef Jomo Gopaul was charged with second-degree murder in the slaying of Julie Paskall. He is due in court next month.
Rhiannon and her family hope for justice as they continue to remember a loving wife and hockey mom.
With files from Catherine Urquhart
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