St. Albert is opening its arms to those mourning the loss of players killed in the Humboldt Broncos bus crash in Saskatchewan on Friday.
Four alumni of the St. Albert Raiders Hockey Club – Stephen Wack, Jaxon Joseph, Logan Hunter and Conner Lukan – died in Friday’s collision between the team bus and a semi-trailer unit transporting peat moss.
Darcy Haugen, head coach/general manager of the Broncos and a former midget AAA Raider in the early 1990s, was also killed.
As part of the grieving process, the Raiders Hockey Club dressing room at Akinsdale Arena was open Sunday afternoon with counsellors present for family, friends and teammates to share memories of the four players.
“The Raiders are so tight-knit and so many guys knew those four,” said Sam Smith-Ackerl, captain of the 2016/17 midget AAA Raiders and Hunter’s teammate for two seasons. “It’s a good idea for grieving. It’s good to get together and help each other share stories and uplift each other.”
The midget AA Crusaders and bantam AA Bears of the Raiders Hockey Club wore Humboldt Broncos' stickers on their helmets in Sunday’s home playoff games and a moment of silence was observed.
The Raiders Hockey Club is planning to honour the memories of the four local Broncos.
“We’re discussing how we can commemorate these kids' lives that passed away way too young,” said Raiders’ president Kevin Porter. “It’s quite shocking and devastating.”
Many past and present St. Albert players with connections to the fallen Broncos attended Sunday’s candlelight vigil in Humboldt.
St. Albert Mayor Cathy Heron expressed condolences on behalf of the city.
"St. Albert is a hockey community and we mourn as every other community in Canada does. Our condolences to friends and family of those lost. Prayers for strength and a quick recovery for those injured. Everyone is a part of this, including those who witnessed and responded. Hearts are heavy. #prayersforHumboldt," Heron said in a news release.
"While there is a strong St. Albert connection, this is an Canadian tragedy that affects the entire nation. We grieve for all 15 lost lives, those injured and those who responded with courage, compassion and professionalism," Heron said.
In addition to the 15 people killed, 14 others were injured, some critically. Ten of the deceased were players. The team roster of 24 players ranged in age from 16 to 21.
Twenty-nine people were on the bus headed to Nipawin for game five in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League playoff series against the Hawks when the accident occurred 30 kilometres north of Tisdale.
The semi-trailer was travelling west on Highway 335 and the team bus was going north on Highway 35 when they collided around 5 p.m.
The force of the crash sent both vehicles into the ditch in the northwest corner of the intersection.
There was a stop sign where the semi unit would have had to yield before crossing the highway the bus was on.
The driver of the semi-trailer was not injured and was detained temporarily after the collision but was released.
The crash site was also the scene of a 1997 tragic accident that killed six people from the same family.
The tragedy also rekindled dark memories of the 1986 Swift Current Broncos losing four players when the team bus hit black ice en route to Regina and skidded off the road.
“No one should ever have to see their child leave to play the sport they love and never come back,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a statement.
