This masterful mom skates, handles two kids, teaches and advocates for Peoria hockey

PEORIA — Emily Hagaman is getting a terrific present for Mother's Day.

"I'm excited to get my husband back," she laughed.

The 32-year-old mother of Adley, 6, and Paxton, 2, is the wife of retiring Peoria Rivermen captain Alec Hagaman. And she's a lot more than that, too.

"Having Emily there, it makes my life complete," Alec Hagaman said. "She truly is amazing. I think there have been times when she cares more about my career than I do. She holds us together."

Alec Hagaman: A look back at Peoria-born captain's career

Emily Hagaman was in the front row, Adley in tow, as Alec presented the President's Cup to the public as the Peoria Rivermen celebrated their SPHL championship on May 3 at the Civic Center.

Growing up in a hockey family

Emily Hagaman grew up in a hockey family. Her father, Dan Stankevitz, had a tryout with the Miracle On Ice 1980 U.S. Olympic Team. He was also a professional fisherman, with some success in the Major League Fishing circuit in Wisconsin.

Her grandfather, Orv, played for the Green Bay Hornets — a high-level men's team — from 1946-58 and was inducted into the Wisconsin Hockey Hall of Fame in 1977.

And Emily Hagaman played, too. She was a center. A perfect match for the future Peoria-born captain of the Rivermen.

'It was crazy'

Teammates, linemates, life mates. However one puts it, Emily Hagaman wears a "C" as well on Team Hagaman.

She met Alec Hagaman when both were at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. She earned a bachelor's in education there, and went on to a master's at University of Wisconsin-Superior.

"We did that long-distance for a while," she said. "Alec was playing (for the Rivermen) and I was working on my master's, had Adley at home with me and I was pregnant with Paxton.

"It was crazy like that for two years. I never thought his career was going to last this long. But here we are, 10 years later."

Hagaman finished a 10-year pro career in storybook style, leading the team to its first championship in 22 years in 2021-22, then leading another Rivermen championship run in 2023-24 that ended on home-ice in what saw him score five goals in his final two games.

President's Cup: Every story from the Peoria Rivermen run to the 2024 SPHL championship

In the emotional aftermath on the Carver Arena ice, Emily Hagaman was there on the Rivermen bench, kids on hand. The Rivermen captain scooped up Adley and a victory "W" sign and skated with her in an iconic photo.

"I love the game, love hockey," she said. "Alec and I have always been each other's cheerleaders. I teared up in that third period (of the Cup-clinching game) when I realized the championship was going to happen and this was it for us. So many emotions, winning it on home ice.

"I remember (laughing) later on Alex said his feet were giving out."

A powerhouse mom and teacher

Emily Hagaman was proposed to on the ice at Carver Arena, after which her husband struck a puck that exploded pink in a baby gender reveal ceremony in front of teammates, family and friends.

Off the ice, she has left her mark in central Illinois, too, a powerhouse in her own right. She has a passion for teaching, and has served as dean of students at Norwood Primary School in Bellevue, and as assistant principal.

When the Rivermen battle with the Peoria Civic Center over lease negotiations and a new ice plant escalated in 2023, it was Emily Hagaman who organized fans and led the strong effort that motivated Peoria City Council to find funding for the project.

Now the Hagaman family is exiting central Illinois. Sometime in June, they will move to Hudson, Wis., and join her family there.

"We're going to start a new journey," she said. "It's exciting, and I'm ready for the challenges."

Dave Eminian is the Journal Star sports columnist, and covers Bradley men's basketball, the Rivermen and Chiefs. He writes the Cleve In The Eve sports column for pjstar.com. He can be reached at 686-3206 or deminian@pjstar.com. Follow him on X.com @icetimecleve.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Mother's Day 2024: Emily Hagaman wife of Peoria Rivermen captain Alec Hagaman