Heartbreaking update on young hockey player who survived Tumbler Ridge shooting

When a school shooting devastated the small community of Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, earlier this year, 12-year-old Maya Gebala became a symbol of resilience. The young hockey player survived critical injuries after the horrific attack at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, and the hockey world rallied around her and her family. But months later, the Gebala family is facing a different kind of crisis, one that has left them without a stable roof over their heads.

The February shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School claimed nine lives and injured 27 others. The suspect, 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar, was later found dead inside the school. Maya, a talented defender for the Tumbler Ridge Raptors under-13 hockey team, suffered severe head and neck injuries from flying debris during the attack and was rushed to Vancouver Children’s Hospital in critical condition. Her mother, Cia Edmonds, remained at her bedside through the ordeal, describing how what started as an ordinary day turned into an unimaginable nightmare.

At the time, Maya was described as “one of the lucky ones,” and the hockey community stepped up in a big way. NHL legend Hayley Wickenheiser shared a GoFundMe campaign to support the family, urging the hockey world to “do your thing.” The outpouring of support reflected the deep bonds that exist in small Canadian towns where the arena serves as a gathering place and source of connection.

But as of June 2026, the family’s situation has taken a heartbreaking turn. According to reports, Maya’s family has been living “between a car and a couch” after struggling to find housing in Canada. Edmonds has also revealed that the family does not qualify for potential government benefits, compounding their difficulties during an already devastating period.

Tumbler Ridge is the kind of place where nearly everyone knows everyone. Mayor Darryl Krakowka said at the time of the shooting that the tragedy shook the community to its core, noting that almost every resident had a personal connection to those affected. In such a tight-knit town, hockey is far more than a sport. It is a lifeline, a source of identity, and a way for people to come together during the hardest of times.

The fact that a family at the center of this tragedy is now facing housing instability raises difficult questions about the support systems available to victims of mass violence in Canada. While initial fundraising efforts and public sympathy poured in during the immediate aftermath, the long road to recovery often extends far beyond the headlines. For Maya and her family, surviving the shooting was only the beginning of their struggle.

As the Gebala family continues to search for stable housing and navigate a benefits system that has so far left them without assistance, their story serves as a sobering reminder that the aftermath of tragedy does not end when the news cycle moves on. For a young hockey warrior who fought for her life, the fight is far from over.