The 21st Duck, Emma Melin, waves to the crowd after skating on to the ice with Ducks goalie Lukas Dostal (1) before the start of the team’s home opener against the Utah Hockey Club on Wednesday night at the Honda Center. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The 21st Duck, Emma Melin, skates on to the ice with Ducks goalie Lukas Dostal (1) before the start of the team’s home opener against the Utah Hockey Club on Wednesday night at the Honda Center. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The 21st Duck, Emma Melin, skates on to the ice with Ducks goalie Lukas Dostal (1) before the start of the team’s home opener against the Utah Hockey Club on Wednesday night at the Honda Center. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The 21st Ducks, 9-year-old Emma Melin of Placentia, and her mother, Rose Melin, look on during the Orange Carpet fan event before the team’s home opener on Wednesday at the Honda Center. The team’s 21st Duck tradition honors a fan who “embodies characteristics such as great perseverance, character, courage and inspiration.” (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
This year’s 21st Duck, 9-year-old Emma Melin of Placentia, signs autographs with Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal, center, during the Orange Carpet fan event before the team’s home opener on Wednesday at the Honda Center. The team’s 21st Duck tradition honors a fan who “embodies characteristics such as great perseverance, character, courage and inspiration.” (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
This year’s 21st Duck, 9-year-old Emma Melin of Placentia, signs autographs for fans with Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal, center, during the Orange Carpet fan event before the team’s home opener on Wednesday at the Honda Center. The team’s 21st Duck tradition honors a fan who “embodies characteristics such as great perseverance, character, courage and inspiration.” (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
This year’s 21st Duck, 9-year-old Emma Melin of Placentia, gets high-fives from fans during the Orange Carpet fan event before the team’s home opener on Wednesday at the Honda Center. The team’s 21st Duck tradition honors a fan who “embodies characteristics such as great perseverance, character, courage and inspiration.” (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
DJ Joao, right, introduces this year’s 21st Duck, 9-year-old Emma Melin of Placentia, as Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal looks on during the Orange Carpet fan event before the team’s home opener on Wednesday at the Honda Center. The team’s 21st Duck tradition honors a fan who “embodies characteristics such as great perseverance, character, courage and inspiration.” (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
DJ Joao, right, introduces this year’s 21st Duck, 9-year-old Emma Melin of Placentia, as Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal looks on during the Orange Carpet fan event before the team’s home opener on Wednesday at the Honda Center. The team’s 21st Duck tradition honors a fan who “embodies characteristics such as great perseverance, character, courage and inspiration.” (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
This year’s 21st Duck, 9-year-old Emma Melin of Placentia, poses for photos during the Orange Carpet fan event before the team’s home opener on Wednesday at the Honda Center. The team’s 21st Duck tradition honors a fan who “embodies characteristics such as great perseverance, character, courage and inspiration.” (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Ducks forward Leo Carlsson signs autographs for fans during the Orange Carpet fan event before the team’s home opener on Wednesday at the Honda Center. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas greets fans during the Orange Carpet fan event before the team’s home opener on Wednesday at the Honda Center. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler takes a selfie with Josh Biley, left, and Haleigh Brown during the Orange Carpet fan event before the team’s home opener on Wednesday at the Honda Center. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal signs autographs during the Orange Carpet fan event before the team’s home opener on Wednesday at the Honda Center. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A Ducks mask with several autographs is seen during the Orange Carpet fan event before the team’s home opener on Wednesday at the Honda Center. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Ducks forward Trevor Zegras signs autographs during the Orange Carpet fan event before the team’s home opener on Wednesday at the Honda Center. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Zoey Flowers waits for Ducks players during the Orange Carpet fan event before the team’s home opener on Wednesday at the Honda Center. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Ducks defenseman Olen Zellweger signs a poster for Gisele Matoca, left, and Jonas Towney during the Orange Carpet fan event before the team’s home opener on Wednesday at the Honda Center. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Ducks rookie Cutter Gauthier takes a selfie with Emily Janes during the Orange Carpet fan event before the team’s home opener on Wednesday at the Honda Center. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Fans wait for Ducks players during the Orange Carpet fan event before the team’s home opener on Wednesday at the Honda Center. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Ducks forward Trevor Zegras signs autographs for fans during the Orange Carpet fan event before the team’s home opener on Wednesday at the Honda Center. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Ducks forward Leo Carlsson, right, takes a selfie with fans during the Orange Carpet fan event before the team’s home opener on Wednesday at the Honda Center. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Ducks defenseman Brian Dumoulin greets fans during the Orange Carpet fan event before the team’s home opener on Wednesday at the Honda Center. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Fans cheer for Ducks mascot Wild Wing during the Orange Carpet fan event before the team’s home opener on Wednesday at the Honda Center. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A pair of Ducks-themed high heels are seen during the Orange Carpet fan event before the team’s home opener on Wednesday at the Honda Center. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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The 21st Duck, Emma Melin, waves to the crowd after skating on to the ice with Ducks goalie Lukas Dostal (1) before the start of the team’s home opener against the Utah Hockey Club on Wednesday night at the Honda Center. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
ANAHEIM — Even with the Ducks adding plenty of grit in recent years, the determination and persistence of a 9-year-old girl, Placentia’s Emma Melin, were welcome additions to the roster as she became the 21st Duck before Wednesday night’s home opener.
Melin’s daunting list of food allergies has placed her in constant peril since the nascent stages of her life and she suffered the first of five anaphylactic reactions that stopped her breathing at 18 months old.
Instead of recoiling into the safety of isolation or squarely focusing on her own health, Melin and her mother Rose have become advocates for the tens of millions of Americans who have food allergies, including a rising number of children.
“Allergic Emma” has a presence on various social media platforms, with content that ranges from allergy-safe recipes, reviews of products that are allergy-conscientious, social commentary, tips for creating safer environments and more. Melin goes beyond the Web, hosting an annual food allergy awareness event and serving as an ambassador for multiple organizations that draw attention to the issue.
“I just love helping people, it makes me so happy that people love to watch my videos, that kids watch and that they can learn from me. I just love raising food-allergy awareness,” Emma said.
Rose Melin said one misconception that still had to be overcome was the potential severity of food allergies and a greater sensitivity to them among the public. Even minor adjustments to habits and environs could go a long way in preventing potentially fatal reactions.
“A lot of people hear the word ‘allergy’ and they think sneezing, itching, hives, which it certainly could be, but it also can be something deadly,” Rose said. “There’s a big difference between a minor reaction – she’s had hundreds, maybe thousands of minor reactions – but it could also turn into a life-threatening reaction.”
“We understand that if you don’t live it, you don’t get it, so that’s why spreading food allergy awareness is so important,” she added.
Emma has been outgoing socially, academically and athletically, too, participating in sports and even attending an Angels game earlier this year. A sprawling and, more importantly, peanut-free suite allowed her to take in a Halos victory in comfort and safety. She even removed the “peanuts and Crackerjacks” lyrics from “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” during the seventh inning stretch.
She’d also been on hand at Honda Center before, including when Ducks goaltender Lukáš Dostál flipped her a puck over the glass, winning her heart to become her favorite player.
It was Dostál who surprised Emma on the ice at her “Learn Her Way” session – she took up hockey about a year ago, adding to her growing list of undertakings – and informed her she was this season’s 21st Duck, an honor the team bestows on a fan who “embodies characteristics such as great perseverance, character, courage and inspiration.”
“It was crazy because I never thought this would happen. (My mom) was like, ‘I’m signing you up for this, but it’s probably not going to happen,’” Emma said.
“My plan was to get tickets to the game tonight, the home opener, and when we saw whoever the 21st Duck was come out, I just wanted to tell her that I thought she was deserving of it and I wanted to let her know that I nominated her,” Rose chimed in. “Then she won and I couldn’t believe it.”
Though her first dash to the hospital came at just nine days old, Emma has been undeterred as she has pursued her passions and curiosities.
“I just told myself that I had to believe in myself and try my best to stay safe,” Emma said.
Emma walked the orange carpet to enter the arena on Wednesday, posing with family, friends, players and six previous 21st Duck honorees. She and her mother were both enthusiastic not only about the fun and fanfare, but about what their relationship with the Ducks could do for their cause.
“That’s been such a great part of this experience with the 21st Duck, not only is it awesome that Emma gets to enjoy all of this, but the Ducks have been so amazing at helping us spread food-allergy awareness,” Rose said. “They have told us they are going to continue to do that throughout the season, which is just such a blessing. We are so grateful.”
Originally Published: October 16, 2024 at 8:12 PM PDT