Four teams took the ice over the weekend in memory of their friends, Stephen Wack, Jaxon Joseph, Logan Hunter and Conner Lukan, in a charity tournament that drew in hundreds of spectators from the region.
Ashley Verbeek, an athletic therapist, came from Edmonton to help out with the tournament. She didn’t know any of the guys who passed away, but was impacted deeply by the death of Dayna Brons, the 24-year-old Broncos athletic therapist who died in the bus crash.
“I’ve been an athletic therapist for seven years now but what really hit me was when Dayna passed away so I felt like I should do something and help out where I can. This tournament was organized and this was a good way to give back,” Verbeek said.
Usually Verbeek sets up behind the bench at games to help players with their injuries but for this charity tournament she said it was mostly laughs and fun behind the bench.
Other spectators came in from around the region, including Taylor Leclaire, Jaedyn Sokoloski and Jaymee Abel who came to St. Albert from Leduc, Tofield, and Spruce Grove.
The three girls had friends who were playing in the memorial tournament and said they came out to support because they just felt so helpless after the event and wanted to find any way to support the cause. Although sometimes the weekend was emotional, the girls said that overall it was a pretty upbeat weekend, with lots of energy and happiness.
Others at the tournament had a much deeper connection to the four boys who passed away.
Curtis Peck, who played for team Wack, grew up with Stephen, who was his best friend. Only months earlier Peck spoke at Wack’s funeral at Rogers Place.
“The whole community coming together and everyone is bringing is such a positive vibe coming to the rink and that is what it is supposed to be. We are celebrating four beautiful lives here from St. Albert and it's special to see,” Peck said.
Keegen Doll, who played for team Hunter, said it was an honour to wear a jersey in honour of his friend.
"It was an honour to represent all the boys who lost their lives that day," Doll said.
The hundreds of people who came together were thanks to a small but dedicated group of organizers who put on the event.
Kyle Dube, who was one of the three adult organizers, along with Sandra Ray and Lisa Antunes, said that the entire tournament was driven by a group of young men who felt like they needed to help do something to honour their friends' legacy.
‘They really wanted those boys to be remembered,” Dube said. “It was inspirational for me.”
“They took a heartbreaking situation and turned it into a heart-warming situation."
Dube said that young players like Josh Dechaine, Jaedon Leslie and Parker AuCoin, along with others, did about 97 per cent of the work, with the adult organizers coaching them along the way. Dube added that he was thankful to be involved and after feeling so hopeless after the accident this was just something he was able to do to help.
“We were just honoured that they let us be part of their group ... and we made some young friends for life.”
Parents of the Broncos players also participated in the weekend, spending time at the rink with their sons’ friends and even hopping behind the bench to coach a game or two.
In the end Team Wack defeated Team Lukan on Sunday afternoon with a final score of 7-5 and the players hoisted a home-made replica Stanley Cup on the ice.
