The tragic bus crash involving the Humboldt Broncos killed four players who recently played for the St. Albert Raiders Hockey Club: Stephen Wack, Jaxon Joseph, Logan Hunter and Conner Lukan.
Wack, 21, a six-foot-six defenceman, was in his second season with the Broncos after stints with the Camrose Kodiaks and Whitecourt Wolverines in the Alberta Junior Hockey League.
Wack played for the bantam AA Steel and bantam AAA Sabres in the Raiders Hockey Club, followed by the midget 15 Leduc Oil Kings and midget AAA Fort Saskatchewan Rangers.
“Stephen was one of a kind. It amazed me how easy it was to connect to him. It’s just the kind of guy he was,” said Josh Perrott, a teammate of Wack’s with the 2011/12 Sabres. “Stephen was always so genuine and wore his heart on his sleeve and never tried to be anything but himself. He was loved by everyone in our community.
“We lost not only a friend but a brother.”
Josh Mahura also played with Wack on the Sabres.
“Stephen was such a caring person and was always there for you when you needed him. He’s someone you loved being around because he brought so much joy to a room. Such a compassionate and kind heart,” Mahura said. “He will be deeply missed by us all.”
Joseph, 20, a centreman, played for the bantam AA Blues, midget 15AA Royals and midget AA Blues in the Raiders Hockey Club before moving on to the Beaver Valley Nitehawks in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League, Surrey Eagles in the British Columbia Junior Hockey League and Melfort Mustangs in the SJHL. The son of former NHLer Chris Joseph was acquired by the Broncos in a trade during the season.
“Jaxon was a very passionate player that would play with his emotions on his sleeve so Jaxon and I worked on channelling his passion," said Keith Waldbillig, co-coach with Joseph with the 2014/15 midget AA team. "I had heard through other coaches and friends that Jaxon and his dad didn’t get along very well on the bench so at the beginning of the year I told Chris that I would take care of his kid and he could take care of mine.
“By mid-season we had it all worked out and Jaxon became our top scorer and second in team points and won our Raider Award for top offensive player that year. He also became a team leader that was relied on in all critical situations.
“Jaxon’s passion challenged my coaching abilities and he made me a better coach,” Waldbillig added. “His infectious smile will be sorrowfully missed. He always made his teammates laugh.”
Hunter, 18, a right winger, was a first-year Bronco after four Raiders Hockey Club seasons with the bantam AA Comets, midget 15AA Royals, midget AA Blues and midget AAA Raiders.
“Logan grew up with my son and you watch these kids grow up from elementary school and you go to their birthday parties and all the school functions. We just watched Logan graduate with our son and you’re proud of him moving on to a certain level of hockey and playing for Humboldt, you’re all proud of that, and then how shocking and devastating this is and then to realize how there are three kids from St. Albert on that team and the coach used to play for St. Albert. It opens up how tight knit everything is and it makes it more devastating,” Porter said.
Lukan, 21, a centreman, hails from Slave Lake and in 2013/14 played for the midget AAA Raiders, followed by three seasons with the Spruce Grove Saints in the AJHL before an off-season trade sent him to the Broncos.
“Conner was a great young man who exemplified what it was to be a great teammate, often sticking up for his team and led by example. He was a hard-nosed player that competed very hard and as an opponent you were aware of him when your skates hit the ice,” said Sandro Pisani, Lukan’s head coach on the Raiders.
