Olympic Athlete Visits East Cleveland Corps

By Hugo Bravo

Before the East Cleveland Corps summer day camp wrapped up for the year, the children got to meet an Olympic champion from their home state.

Laila Edwards, defender for PWHL San Jose of the Professional Women’s Hockey League and a member of the United States women’s national ice hockey team, visited The Salvation Army in East Cleveland.

Nate Berkey, donor relations director for The Salvation Army in Greater Cleveland, reached out to Edwards and invited her to visit the children at The Salvation Army in East Cleveland, where, coincidentally, Edwards’ grandmother is also involved in the corps’ senior programs.

“Laila is a known name in sports, and here in Cleveland, everyone loves her. She’s incredibly kind, soft-spoken, and a real champion for women’s sports,” said Berkey.

Though hockey isn’t as well known in the community as other sports, the children were captivated by Edwards’ story — and by the Olympic gold medal she brought with her after helping Team USA win gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics in February. A Cleveland Heights native, Edwards played hockey for the University of Wisconsin. She made history as the first Black woman to play for the U.S. Olympic women’s hockey team. She also became the first Black woman to score for Team USA in Olympic competition and to win an Olympic gold medal with Team USA in women’s hockey.

During her visit, Edwards was joined by Sully the Seagull, the mascot for the city’s Cleveland Monsters American Hockey League (AHL) team, and Shieldy, The Salvation Army’s own mascot. The children participated in a Q&A session with Edwards and took photos with her. The Salvation Army also brought hockey pucks, which Edwards autographed for each of the campers.

The campers, ranging from first to eighth grade, were all enamored with Edwards’ story, said Berkey. After the event, he talked with Edwards about an interaction she had with one of the campers.

“A boy said to her that he wanted to be an Olympic track and field athlete,” said Berkey. “Laila was really moved by him sharing that with her. It made her feel excited that talking about her own journey inspired another child to say, ‘Maybe my dream can become a reality too.’”