Locals with ties to CT honor victims

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - Two hockey teams with ties to the Newtown area of Connecticut remembered the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting this weekend.

Both the Norfolk Admirals and their opponents, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, have connections to to the area.

Flags were flown at half staff outside the Norfolk Scope to honor the Newtown victims. Inside, many with ties to Sandy Hook Elementary School mourned the lives lost. The gunman killed 20 children and six adults at the school.

"It's very emotional when you think about the innocence that is involved with it. You never know what is going on in somebody's head when that is going on," said Dana DeFilippo, Director of Community Relations for the Norfolk Admirals.

During Friday's game both teams held a moment of silence to honor the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. For the players going up against the Admirals this weekend, the games are a break from the pain they will feel when they head back home. The Bridgeport Sound Tigers team spokesperson says several of these players held camps for the kids of Sandy Hook Elementary. DeFilippo with the Admirals says her friend's daughter  was inside Sandy Hook during the shootings.

"She was literally just sitting by the phone waiting which is just awful. What an awful thing to experience," said DeFilippo.

During that wait, DeFilippo says her friend experienced a roller coaster of emotions wondering if her child was shot in the school.

"It was just horrific. Unfortunately you expect the worse so you're trying to prepare yourself for the worse news possible. Then there's that sense of joy to know your child is all right," said DeFilippo.

Fortunately, her friend's daughter made it out of the school safe. While nothing can erase the pain the Newtown community is feeling, DeFilippo and the Admirals are hoping to send some comfort to the young survivors. The team is collecting Teddy Bears to send to the children.

"This is so they can feel that people care about them, and have something to hold onto," said DeFilippo.

DeFilippo says she plans to take those teddy bears to Connecticut when she goes home for the holidays. People interested in donating, can bring teddy bears to the Norfolk Admirals office at the Scope.