An unthinkable tragedy has brought an overwhelming response from St. Albert and across the nation.
On Friday a horrific bus crash in Saskatchewan claimed the lives of 15 people, including five people with ties to St. Albert.
Four alumni of the St. Albert Raiders Hockey Club: Logan Hunter, Jaxon Joseph, Conner Lukan, and Stephen Wack died in the crash. Humboldt Broncos coach Darcy Haugan, who also played in St. Albert, is also among the dead.
Shock and disbelief came in waves as news of the Humboldt Broncos tragedy spread across the country.
But even as the depth and breadth of the tragedy spread, a remarkable outpouring of support gained momentum.
By Sunday night carloads of supporters, including former and current St. Albert Raider players, descended on Humboldt for a vigil that drew 5,000 people. In St. Albert the Raiders opened their dressing room at the Akinsdale Arena as a gathering point for grieving people.
Grieving St. Albert mother Shauna Nordstrom, mother to Logan Hunter, was moved by the outpouring of support. Two carloads of her son's friends accompanied her to Humboldt for the vigil.
"Knowing what happened there (Sunday) with the Raiders’ dressing room just shows me how the St. Albert community is amazing. I’ve had so many people call me and text me and offer to do anything I need. People that don't even know me that well are reaching out,” Nordstrom said.
Teammates, family members, billet families and friends, raw with grief at the loss of their loved ones, are reporting similar stories of overwhelming support.
The tragedy has touched many people. NHL teams played their weekend games with Broncos emblazoned on the backs of their jerseys. On Tuesday afternoon the GoFundMe campaign for the Humboldt Broncos had swelled to nearly $7.5 million – the largest GoFundMe campaign in Canadian history.
Two St. Albert women have started a separate fundraising campaign. Ribbons are being tied to trees in the city in memory of the local young men.
In St. Albert on Sunday night at the Akinsdale arena, teams and officials formed a circle on the ice – a behaviour played out in arenas across the country – to mark a moment of silence.
This tragedy has touched thousands of people across the country and its impact is immense for many in our community.
Hockey is our game. Everyone can identify with players who spend countless hours on highways in rural areas going to and from arenas. Parents are hugging their kids a little tighter as they grieve for those who can not do so anymore.
The grieving is only just the beginning for families, friends and teammates. The circles of love in the hockey community and larger community will continue to be there for those in need.
While these young men were notable hockey players, they were also sons, brothers, friends, teammates and beloved members of our community. They will not be forgotten.
