A real hockey hero
10-year old Taten Hammerberg of Sault Ste. Marie passed away early this morning, leaving his family and a hockey town to mourn with aching hearts.
The amazing youngster, who courageously played hockey with enthusiasm and vigour and with a prosthetic limb after having part of his leg amputated in 2013, had been battling cancer for three years.
He continued to play for the Grand Gardens Ice Hawks of the Soo Pee Wee Hockey League’s atom major division right up until this past December when his condition took a turn for the worse.
Just recently, his coach, Scott Smith, formed Taten’s Warriors, in honour of the lovable, likable, inspirational 10-year old.
Taten’s teammates and other teams in the community had taken to wearing Taten’s Warriors stickers on their helmets.
There is a campaign underway to raise money in Taten’s name — money that will go to the Algoma Residential Community Hospice.
Please see previous story on HockeyNewsNorth.com — Taten’s Warriors band together — on how and where to make a donation.
PHOTO: Taten, as a member of the Grand Gardens Ice Hawks.
God Bless Taten…his courage & fight will be remembered. Taten’s family were Warriors with him, and my thoughts & condolences are extended to each and every one of you. Although sadness is your journey today, memories of Taten will hopefully fill your heart with smiles and joy again. God Bless you all.
Lynn Tomie
My heart goes out to you and your family at this most difficult time in your life. You must be so proud of Taten and he is so well thought of by his team mates and everyone who new him and when you think of all the hard things that he must have gone through he still managed to become a hockey player. You will have so many memories of happy times to look back on. But that will all come in time. My husband and I know how broken your hearts are. We lost our son to cancer at the age of 13 in 1981. We know how hard it must have been for you and your family going through so much. I’m not very good with words. I just want you to know that you are in our thoughts and prayers. I know that Taten will be watching over his family from heaven. <3 <3
I am deeply saddened by this. I hope he went peacefully. Please keep him close to our thoughts and pray for his family. The sault and area could not be more proud of this strong young man
With my sincerest sympathy I am sorry and to his teammates play for him with all your hearts and may his strength pass to you
i am very sorry for your loss!! R.I.P Taten!!😢
My thoughts and prayers go out to the family.
I’m very sorry for your loss…sending prayers to the family xo.
My heart aches for your family. What an amazing young man. May wonderful memories of you dear son , give you strength in time.
How can the stickers be purchased? I would love them for our mite team, I would love to honor him. My son is on a mite team in negaunee, Michigan.
Hi you can contact Scott Smith for Tatens Warriors stickers
-Scott Smith at rootsinthesoo@hotmail.com
Make cheques payable to Tatens Warriors.
God Bless You Taten !! Your Spirit Will Live On With Your Family And Team Mates
Always… My Heart Is Breaking For Your Family.. Your Courage Will Live On Forever !!
What a big hero that little guy was…our sincere sympathies to the family & friends…R.I.P. Little Big Hero!
I can’t even to begin to imagine how heartbreaking this is for his family. May God Bless them and give them strength.
I am so sorry for your loss. Sending my deepest condolences and prayers to the families and friends. May he R.I.P and his spirit live on.
Taten is now our own little Terry Fox..What an honour for the Sault to be able to a knowledge such tenacity from a ten years old boy..Take courage Marnie and family Taten is now looking down on all of you and he will give you strength and courage to carry on his legacy of love and endurance. .God bless you all. .you are in our prayers and hearts..Taten loved you on earth and he will love you in heaven always…he will be your Salvation and your strength. …
we are so very sorry jim and katie for such a wonderful son you had for such a short time
Sorry to read of this child’s passing. Heartbreaking. Prayers for his family and friend and the community. Will keep you all in my prayers. God Bless..
This storey touched my heart. Heaven has a new warrior who will no longer feel any pain. He will be at peace skating and shooting pucks with the Angels. My sincere condolences to the families and friends of this brave young man. May you find peace in the wonderful memories of your son, your brother, your grandson, your cousin and your friend. May God bless you all.
We send our deepest sympathy to the family of Taten. Our hearts are so sad and we keep Taten’s dear family in our prayers and thoughts during this very difficult time. God bless you…..
Godspeed Warrior ^i^Angel^i^ Taten. Our son is a childhood cancer survivor & we well remember the days of chemo /couch/hockey rink. I can imagine Taten was too sick to hold a stick but his love for the game gave him the strength to do it. Our thoughts & prayers are with you. The Soo hockey families should be so proud of themselves for showing their ongoing support for Taten during is journey – no doubt it added a twinkle in his eye & gave him a harder slapshot 😉 May this sweet boy rest in peace.
What a great little warrior. Taten shall live on in our hearts.
Im so sorry for your loss God bless your family and know that every hockey parent old and new have you in our thoughts and prayers
God Bless his little heart. So sad, God bless all his family at this time. Hold onto the wonderful happy memories you have. We do not know your family or Taten but we can just imagine how hard it is for you to lose a precious little boy. Our hearts are so sad and we keep Taten’s dear family in our prayers and thoughts during this very difficult time. God bless you…..
My heart goes out to you and your family. Such a difficult time to endure.
God Bless You !!!!
Prayers and deepest sympathy.
May he rest in peace….he has left a mark on the community. … prayers go out to the family…
I am so sorry for your loss. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
I saw the picture of this sweet boys face and it took my breath away. I don’t know the boy but my heart aches for the parents and the pain they will endure until their hearts learn to live with the loss of a child. I will pray very hard for comfort for you. My heart hurts for you.💕😢
I am so sorry for the loss of your son Taten, My thoughts and prayers and my deepest condolences are sent to Taten family & friends & His Hockey team. R.I.P. Hockey Hero 🙂