Emmalynn Herbstritt Obituary, Death – Emmalynn Herbstritt of Salt Lake City has tragically passed away. The Utah hockey community is in mourning following the death of a former player and mentor in a climbing accident in Grand County. They will remember Emmalynn Herbstritt, 21, and her impact on high school hockey long after she graduated and until her death. According to the Grand County Sheriff’s Office, Emmalynn Herbstritt, a canyoneering guide, died at the scene of the accident near Morning Glory Arch on Saturday. The sheriff’s office provided no details on the accident.
Emmalynn is a well-known name among Utah high school hockey players. Those who follow hockey feel that even if she didn’t have a first name, her surname would be recognized. “She’s just so thrilled about everything and has her hands in everything,” a hockey team mom, Kerry Fain, said. “Her and her family, Misty and Bryan, her dad, they’re just great.” Hockey has been a full-fledged family affair for the Herbstritts for more than a decade. Misty and Bryan have been involved at the state board level for Utah High School Hockey, according to Fain, whose daughter played with Emmalynn on the coveted Lady Grizzlies U19 team a few years ago. Emmalynn began playing hockey at the age of 10 and has played for the Utah Junior Grizzlies, Lady Grizzlies, Brighton High School, and East High School. Her younger brother and sister, according to Fain, are also hockey players.
Emmalynn, according to Fain, was “very extraordinary.” “She could even keep up with the males and give them a taste of their own medicine,” the author writes. “Neither the collision nor the game frightened her.” Emmalynn played Varsity and was an alternate Captain her senior year at East High, according to East Hockey Trustee Gina Caps. She got the Utah High School Hockey Art Treece Lady MVP Award for Division 2 in 2019, according to Caps. This honor is granted to “the league’s most skilled female player.” “She was also a finalist for the Tim Hixson Memorial Scholarship for a UHSH Defensive Player,” Caps explained, noting that this award is granted for academic and community involvement. Caps stated, “Emilylynn was active in her religious community.”
Emmalynn continued to play hockey in college for Northern Michigan University, where she and her team won the division championship, according to Fain. According to Fain, Emmalynn was a fervent Christian who dropped out of college to serve as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Emmalynn loved being outside, and Fain said she was usually hiking when she wasn’t on the ice. Fain went on to explain that the 21-year-old had recently begun working as a canyoneering guide in Moab and was thoroughly enjoying himself.
The news of Emmalynn’s death has been difficult for the whole Utah hockey family, with team social media posts reflecting the grief and sadness that has been left behind.
“First, shock, because that’s the last of my kids I’d ever expect to learn had died, especially in such a dramatic fashion,” Fain explained. “She loves life, therefore she was out enjoying it when the disaster happened.” “Emmalynn was always kind to everyone.” She was one of our more skilled players; these individuals tend to go in one of two directions: they grow irritated that the new players aren’t making the necessary plays, or they become frustrated that the new players are. Or assist them. “Emilynn chose to help them,” said East High Hockey Coach Eric Capps. “She was completely concentrated on the rink, as I’m sure she was in all she did.”
East High Assistant Coach Per Gesteland recalled, “I recall her tremendous passion in the game.” “She was a fierce and courageous defender.” “She was the bench motivator, usually praising (and even coaching) her colleagues on the ice from the bench.” Emmalynn, according to Fain, was a charming, sweet player who went on to become a mentor and help other women find their voices.
Fain recalls speaking to a group of about 100 girls in Chicago at a showcase event about the advantages of participating in an athletic sport in college. Emmalynn, according to Fain, was a dazzling beacon for others. “Anything she could do to help—youth camp, kids, the younger Lady Griz—she’d come out and skate with them,” Fain said.
