"It was fajita night to celebrate Laila Edwards' hockey homecoming when an excited shriek pierced the casual gathering in the brightly lit early 20th-century colonial she grew up in on a quiet, tree-lined street. Four generations of the Edwards family turned to see a dumbstruck Laila and long-time friend and teammate Caroline Harvey huddled over a cell phone, breathlessly giggling, one Oh, my God after another."
"There, for all the world to see, was a picture Cleveland Cavaliers forward Larry Nance Jr. had posted on social media of him arriving for an NBA game wearing Edwards' No. 10 U.S. hockey jersey. Whoa, said Edwards, well-versed in the city's sports history even though she long ago left Cleveland to pursue a career in hockey. He's born in Ohio. His dad played for the Cavs. Legend, Edwards said. I thought it was super cool for him to do that, when he didn't have to."
"She will become the first Black female to represent the U.S. at the Olympics in hockey, and at 6-foot-1 and 195 pounds, she is an imposing defender with a rare combination of having a hard shot, speed and deft play-making ability."
Laila Edwards returned to her Cleveland Heights family home where a social-media moment from Cavaliers forward Larry Nance Jr. wearing her No. 10 U.S. hockey jersey sparked excitement. A day later she took the ceremonial opening face-off and recorded an assist in a 4-1 Rivalry Series win over Canada at the downtown arena. Edwards will become the first Black female to represent the United States in Olympic women's hockey at the Milan Cortina Games next month. At 6-foot-1 and 195 pounds she is an imposing defender with a hard shot, speed and play-making skill. Teammate Hilary Knight called her the future of the sport and said she is just scratching the surface of her abilities.
Read at www.news-herald.com
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