The AccidentOn April 6, 2018, around 5:00pm, the Humboldt Broncos ice hockey team bus, on it's way to a semi-finals playoff game in Nipawin, collided with a tractor on the intersection of Highway 335. The bus was carrying 29 total passengers, 15 of which died. 10 players, 2 coaches, an announcer, statistician, and athletic therapist were the victims, all 14 other passengers injured, while the tractor driver remained unharmed. First responders, volunteers, and anyone who was near by rushed to the scene to help. Hours after, the city and hockey family mourned the tragedy.
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The Response By 7:30 that same night, vigils were set up at the rink, clubs, and convention centers near by. The Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, had joined the citizens and shared his own person struggles with loss. Gofundme pages were set up, raising well over $15 million in only 12 days for the families affected by this tragedy The hockey family across Canada and the US left porch lights on and hockey stick by the door "for the boys to play one last game." Many NHL coaches, players, celebrities, and public figures went on record to send their condolences to the families and friends of the Broncos. Many of the NHL players played with the names of the Broncos one their jerseys, wore the Humboldt jersey, donated funds, and left their own sticks out for the boys.
A few weeks after the tragedy, a hockey stick shaped cloud appeared in the sky in Saskatchewan. To many, it symbolized that the sticks out for the boys had reached them. It was a sign of hope and peace to many during this hard time in the hockey community. |